Future of the e-charging stations: Stadtwerke on the uprising against EU regulation!

Future of the e-charging stations: Stadtwerke on the uprising against EU regulation!

The new EU regulation for regulating electric charging stations causes excitement among Hessian municipal utilities. From January, municipal utilities that operate the power grid are no longer allowed to operate charging stations. This regulation, which is intended to prevent monopolies and promote competition, in particular puts smaller providers under pressure, since they often rely on the income from the charging stations. Ulrich Erven, mobility expert at the Hessen state energy agency, explains that many of the Hessian municipal utilities - a total of 20 - face challenges. Among them is Enwag, which operates 37 charging stations in the Wetzlar region, whose managing director Berndt Hartmann warns that many of these pillars are already losing business.

Other municipal utilities, such as the Maintal-Werke, also plan to ignore the new requirements and continue their previous business. Tillmann Hosius, Managing Director of Maintal-Werke, criticizes the additional bureaucracy and describes the situation as unnecessary. The municipal utilities of Vogelsberg-Kreisstadt Lauterbach and Hünfeld are forced to transfer their charging stations to the city or to sell the operation, which is due to the recently applicable and now tightened laws. "All of these bureaucracy and this administrative effort are no longer in relation to," says Manuel Gollbach, commercial manager of Stadtwerke Hünfeld, who also mentions that they are expected to sell their charging station in two weeks.

Increasing competition and consumer opportunities

Despite the challenges that the new Ordinance brings, the competition among the providers could grow, which leads potentially at cheaper prices for consumers. According to Erven, over 11,600 charging stations are now available in Hesse. This number could continue to increase due to the new regulation, since new providers are pushing into the market, especially companies that rely on quick charging stations that are more lucrative than the traditional charging stations of the municipal utilities. Ultimately, consumers could benefit that more providers will compete for their favor. More information about the charging stations in Germany can be found on the interactive map of Federal Network Agency that offers an overview of all operators and their connections.

According to Erven, the number of electric cars in Hesse has increased, which indicates an increasing need for charging stations. His assessment suggests that the new EU regulation, although it may be tricky in implementation, could ultimately support the development of a robust and diversified charging infrastructure.