E-Control is introducing new rules for network fees from 2027. About the System Usage Fees Basic Ordinance (SNE-GV) has been hotly debated in recent months. The first draft was presented at the beginning of July, which was sharply criticized primarily because of its strict rules for battery storage operators. Comments on this were sought in the summer and the draft was revised. The new version was approved by the advisory board on Thursday, and E-Control is scheduled to present the final SNE AGM next week. Several renewable energy associations not looking forward to it at all.
Battery storage projects are in danger of being discontinued
PV&B Austria, Windkraft Austria and the Federal Energy Storage Association warn that the SNE-GV “in its current form has the potential to become a pure Battery delay regulation to degenerate.” The criteria for battery storage to be considered “grid-friendly” and thus pay less network fees are still too strict. This could lead to many battery storage projects not even being implemented; others simply would not work in a grid-friendly manner, he says Vera ImmitzerManaging Director of PV&B Austria. This is not in the spirit of the expansion of renewables, for which more flexibility should be created in the power grid. This in turn is damaging to the local economy.
Relief on the networks would be urgently needed
“The domestic electricity market needs rapid relief through electricity storage as well as planning security and continuity. Austria is threatened with this historical opportunity towards a sustainable reduction in network and electricity costs play away” says a press release from the associations. Numerous statements were sent to E-Control. However, there was no technical exchange with E-Control. “Instead of a technical and transparent joint conclusion of the process, individual interests were apparently ultimately favored in negotiations behind closed doors,” suspect the associations, which claim to be familiar with parts of the final SNE-GA version.
E-Control sees things completely differently
E-Control assured the KURIER during a conversation in July that it had previously Discussions with the battery storage industry have given. The criteria for full exemption from charges for electricity purchases are well thought out and necessary in order to ensure fairness in network charges. Battery storage systems can be operated economically under the conditions of the SNE-GV easily possible. The new version of the regulation will reportedly be presented next week. Then you will know more.