Electricity prices on the upswing: network operators benefit at the expense of customers!

Electricity prices on the upswing: network operators benefit at the expense of customers!

A current analysis of the Federal Association of New Energy Industry (BNE) openly states that German private and corporate customers pay high electricity prices in a European comparison. This is mainly due to the network costs, which have a significant impact on final prices. According to [Oekonews] (https://www2.oekonews.at/studie-dt-t-t-t- dieberegentlegers-wocken-Knall-Knall-Knall-AB+2400+1228030), the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) is largely ineffective, while the average return on the network operator is 20.2 percent.

The high profit margins of the network operators are particularly striking: EWE networks achieve 50 percent, the Palatinate Netz Netz 39 percent and Westnetz 27 percent. This raises questions about regulation. BNE managing director Robert Busch expressed concerns that the network operators artificially increase their costs in the base year and benefit from double inflation compensation.

transparency and necessary reforms

In order to stop the unfair price increase, the BNE demands central reforms. This includes the introduction of transparency measures, the examination of the network operators and the abolition of additional sources of income, such as double inflation compensation. The BNetza is said to prevent excessive profits and act more in the sense of consumers.

cost structure and tariff models

The energy price is made up of various components, whereby the basic price plays a role, which, according to the Federal Network Agency, regardless of consumption. While the basic price is usually a smaller share of the overall bill, there are providers who demand no or only a small basic price. This can be a strategic challenge for customers with a high electricity requirement, for example through heat pumps.

linear tariffs offer incentives to save energy, since savings in the kilowatt hours used reduce the energy costs. A clever choice of tariffs can thus enable significant savings.

renewable energies in focus

In the further context, the expansion of renewable energies plays a crucial role in the development of energy prices. According to the [ZEIT] (https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/energiemonitor-stra-Strompreis-gaspreis-erneuer- energies expansion), the energy monitor shows continuous updates and data on renewable energies as well as the electricity mix. Particularly noteworthy are the progress in wind energy systems and the structural adjustments to promote the use of renewable energy sources.

The democratic discussion about energy prices remains tense, since both consumers and the regulating authorities are required to develop solutions that not only take into account the economic interests of the network operators, but also meet the needs of consumers.