European Commission says German grid fee exemptions for large users in 2012-2013 against state aid rules

Germany needs to recover millions of euros in illegal aid from certain large electricity users exempted from grid charges in Germany in 2012-2013 after the European Commission declared past regulation was against EU State aid rules. “Fully exempting certain large users from these charges is an unfair advantage and increases the financial burden on other electricity users,” said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in a press release. Large users avoided paying an estimated 300 million euros, says the release. It was true that large users with a stable power consumption generated fewer network costs, but there is “no objective justification” for a full exemption, said the Commission. “Each user should pay for the costs it causes to the network”, but a partial reduction of fees is justified. Germany now needed to determine the amount and recover the illegal aid.

Find the press release in English here.

For background, read the CLEW factsheet Power grid fees- Unfair and opaque?