Latest news with #FederalNetworkAgency
Bloomberg
04-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Renewable Firms Rush to Secure German Projects as Mood Shifts
Developers of renewable energy are rushing to lock in German projects as Berlin's tone on the green transition shifts, sparking worries that strong government support may start to dwindle. High participation at two recent clean energy auctions shows that demand for such projects remains strong, the Federal Network Agency said Thursday. Yet analysts see the rush as a sign that companies are heeding the messages of conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government, which wants to put the brakes on the country's rapid renewable expansion.
Mint
04-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Renewable Firms Rush to Secure German Projects as Mood Shifts
(Bloomberg) -- Developers of renewable energy are rushing to lock in German projects as Berlin's tone on the green transition shifts, sparking worries that strong government support may start to dwindle. High participation at two recent clean energy auctions shows that demand for such projects remains strong, the Federal Network Agency said Thursday. Yet analysts see the rush as a sign that companies are heeding the messages of conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government, which wants to put the brakes on the country's rapid renewable expansion. 'Many developers are rushing into the auctions now because they are aware of the existing conditions and the risk that these could worsen in the future,' according to Casimir Lorenz, managing director for Central Europe at think tank Aurora Energy Research. Germany boosted support for the green shift in the aftermath of the energy crisis sparked by Russia's war on Ukraine, in part by streamlining planning and permitting processes. But the rapid addition of new capacities has added pressure for expensive grid expansions and upgrades, with the new government looking to cut down on such costs for consumers. The auction results show that the past measures 'are having their full effect,' said Bärbel Heidebroek, president of the German Wind Energy Association. She urged the new government to maintain the course, with current discussions 'damaging an industry that is on course for success.' Economy minister Katherina Reiche, who is also in charge of the country's energy policy, said at a recent industry gathering that the rapid renewables expansion has led to massive grid growth and associated charges. She argued that renewables must develop more in line with the grid's needs — a view that has also gained traction in neighboring France — and expressed her intention to 'weaken the business case' of renewables. In line with that, Germany's energy regulator recently proposed making renewable generators contribute financially for getting hooked up to the grid. The debate about the role of clean energy will be guided by a study Berlin has commissioned on how much electricity demand Germany is likely to see in the coming years. A sluggish roll-out of electric vehicles, heat pumps and weak industrial demand have raised doubts that the country's current plan to double solar and wind capacity by 2030 is actually necessary. The economy ministry selected the groups in charge of this examination at the end of June and has asked them to limit their analysis to existing scientific findings and studies in light of a short deadline, the ministry said in response to emailed questions. It added that cost efficiency should be one of the study's key priorities. 'The given conditions make it difficult to obtain reliable results,' said Simone Peter, president of the German Renewable Energy Federation. The study's conclusions on future power demand are likely to serve as a universal reference for renewable developers and energy strategy. To Claudia Kemfert, who leads the energy, transport, and environment department of the German Institute for Economic Research, this and other signals 'indicate a shift in priorities' – away from the accelerated energy transition toward a more fossil-friendly approach, even though the government has committed to keeping the goal of climate neutrality by 2045. 'The currently high participation rates could also reflect a kind of 'gate-closing panic,'' she said of the recent clean energy auctions. 'The new political framework will significantly complicate or slow down the expansion of renewable energies.' More stories like this are available on
Local Germany
30-05-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
How Germany's electricity tariff rules are changing from June
From June 6th, customers who change electricity providers in Germany will their supply switched over within 24 hours. This comes as the result of a change to the EU's Energy Industry Act, and it's intended to increase competition in the market and protect consumers, according to the Lower Saxony Consumer Advice Centre. Here's what the change means for you: Following the rule change on June 6th, if you change electricity tariffs, the switch must be carried out within 24 hours (excluding Sundays). For household consumers this means that if you switch from one provider to another, you can expect your new provider to start delivering your energy almost immediately. However, the new legislation does not allow you to unilaterally terminate or shorten an existing contract with an electricity provider. How does a faster switch support consumers? According to the Federal Network Agency, until now making such a switch took eight or nine days on average, and sometimes as long as three weeks. During the interim period before a new tariff kicks in, consumers were often left paying a higher price for 'basic supply' electricity. (The basic supply ( Grundversorgung) tariff is intended to make sure no one is left without energy if they fail to secure a contract with a supplier, but it tends to cost far more than the prices set in one- or two-year contracts arranged with electricity providers.) READ ALSO: How to reduce your household electricity bill in Germany this year Shortening the period that customers are left consuming basic supply energy will therefore save them some money. Advertisement What are the disadvantages for consumers? In addition to mandating a 24 hour changeover, the new rules are set to end the possibility of retroactive registration and deregistration. So going forward you must plan your energy contract changeovers in advance, and set them up for a future date. This may cause inconveniences for anyone moving house who forgets to deregister in good time. READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Germany in June 2025 Also, Elisabeth Aßmann of the Lower Saxony Consumer Advice Centre warns that with the new rules in place consumers should be more cautious when offered a new electricity contract at their front door or over the phone: 'If the change of supplier has to be completed within 24 hours … an unwanted contract will also take effect more quickly.' Bear in mind, however, that consumers will continue to have the right to cancel contracts concluded in this way up to 14 days after signing. According to EU rules, all member states need to enact these changes to there electricity supply regulations by January 1st, 2026. Germany's Federal Network Agency hopes that implementing the directive ahead of time will give electricity providers in the country enough time to put the necessary processes in place so that demand wont be disrupted. With reporting by DPA.
The Star
27-05-2025
- General
- The Star
German mobile phone users to troubleshoot last coverage dead spots
Germany's mobile phone networks have improved significantly in recent years, but the last spots of poor coverage remain in both urban and rural areas. — AFP Relaxnews DUSSELDORF: Mobile phone owners across Germany are urged in the coming days to support an initiative to locate and report the last dead spots in network reception. Organised by the federal, state and local governments, the first nationwide mobile phone measurement week is to start on Monday and run until next Sunday. Citizens should use the Federal Network Agency's free broadband measurement app to help close the last of the infamous gaps in coverage that have long frustrated callers and Internet users. "Together we will create an up-to-date picture of network availability – and thus provide a database for better mobile coverage overall," said Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger. Germany's mobile phone networks have improved significantly in recent years, but the last spots of poor coverage remain in both urban and rural areas. Last year, a mobile phone measurement week of this kind was already organised in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. – dpa
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Record number of complaints about Germany's postal service
Germany's postal service has received more complaints about lost, delayed or damaged items than ever before. Deutsche Post received around 420,000 complaints last year, its parent company DHL announced on Saturday. Germany's Federal Network Agency had received around 39,500 complaints related to Deutsche Post in 2024, but under a new law, the group was required for the first time to provide information on complaints that it had received directly. While the number of complaints is high, it represents 0.003% of the approximately 14 billion letters and parcels the group delivered in 2024. The difference between this figure and the figure given by the network agency may also be due to the fact that not every consumer contacted the agency directly, but first expressed their displeasure to the post office. The proportion of complaints from other German parcel delivery companies was higher: DPD, for example, reported 0.11% and GLS 0.1% – that means that one in every 1,000 parcels led to a complaint. However, the figures are not directly comparable because Deutsche Post's complaint rate of 0.003% of the total also includes letters, which traditionally result in fewer complaints than parcels. Deutsche Post said that while the proportion of complaints was very low, it regretted every single case, but added that "it can never be completely ruled out that a company with 187,000 employees and around 50 million items of mail processed every day will not make mistakes." A company spokesman said that the company wanted to improve.
