Overview

• The Bundesnetzagentur initiated a consultation process on May 12, 2025, to gather feedback on proposed reforms to the electricity grid fee system, with input being accepted until the end of June 2025.
• Key proposals include charging grid fees to electricity producers, such as solar and wind operators, to distribute costs more equitably and reduce the burden on consumers.
• The agency is considering introducing flat fees, capacity-based charges, and dynamic tariffs that vary based on network load and time, rewarding flexible consumption and generation.
• Implementation of dynamic tariffs depends on the widespread adoption of smart meters, which currently only reach about two percent of German consumers, highlighting the need for digitalization.
• Grid fees, which have risen sharply due to renewable energy expansion and infrastructure upgrades, now account for over a quarter of household electricity costs, increasing from 7.5 ct/kWh in 2021 to 11.6 ct/kWh in 2024.