The industry is committed to climate neutrality and is investing in new processes, facilities, and products. However, this transformation can only succeed if climate-friendly production in Germany is economically viable. This requires more than just ambitious goals: energy must be affordable, reliably available, and predictable over the long term.

Hardly any other energy policy initiative is currently the subject of such intense debate as the amendment to the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) and the German Grid Package. According to an announcement by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, both reforms are to be approved by the Cabinet before the summer recess and subsequently introduced into the parliamentary process. The EEG 2027 and the Grid Package are two key components of the federal government’s strategy to make the energy transition more cost-effective, market-oriented, and grid-compatible in the future.

Key milestones for the EU Grids Package and the issue of customer-owned installations were reached at the Brussels level: At the EU Energy Council meeting on June 26, 2026, in Luxembourg, a common position (general approach) was reached. Shortly thereafter, on July 2, 2026, the European Parliament’s (EP) ITRE Committee, which is leading on this issue, adopted compromise amendments, including, word-for-word, the amendment on customer-owned installations submitted by MEP Wechsler. The way is now clear for trilogue negotiations.****

German industry continues to face significant pressure from low-cost imports and high energy prices. To provide targeted relief, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Reiche announced in November the introduction of an industrial electricity price. In addition, electricity price compensation will be expanded, subsidies for transmission network costs for 2026 will be granted, and the electricity tax reduction for the manufacturing sector will be made permanent. The BDI welcomes the measures but warns against restrictions on the industrial electricity price and false expectations created by the media.

The eagerly awaited Energy Transition Monitoring Report was released last week by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Based on this report, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Reiche presented her “10-Point Plan,” which is intended to outline the guidelines for a realignment of energy policy. Both documents address many of the demands that the BDI had also raised in its March 2025 study, “Getting the Energy Transition Back on Track.”

The significant uncertainty currently surrounding the interpretation of the term “customer installation” in the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), following the rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), could lead to economic and business losses and is hindering urgently needed investments in Germany. Furthermore, the current situation also poses a risk to society as a whole that should not be underestimated. The functioning of the utility system could be fundamentally disrupted.

The Federal Network Agency has launched numerous initiatives to reform grid fees: Draft regulations are available regarding avoided grid fees and fees for equipment used on a singular basis. The process for the general grid tariff system (AgNES process) was launched in May 2025 with a discussion paper. The reform of industrial network charges, for which key points were presented in June 2024, is no longer expected to proceed separately. What is missing overall is a comprehensive roadmap that coordinates the timing and content of all reform initiatives. As early as September 2024, in our BDI statement on industrial network charges, we had called for the Federal Network Agency to synchronize the timing and content of its reform initiatives. This remains an urgent necessity.

The Federal Network Agency is fundamentally questioning the current grid tariff system. To this end, it has launched the AgNes process, which aims to develop a grid tariff system compatible with the energy transition. The central goal is to increase flexibility for more efficient use of the grids, a goal that was already articulated during the reform of individual grid tariffs. Below is an overview of the key principles and the current state of the debate.

What will the energy system of the future look like? The BMWK has been working on this issue for over two years with various stakeholders, including the BDI. The jointly developed strategy is now open for public comment through January 31, 2025.

Deutschlands Stromsystem muss neu gedacht werden. Vor allem wachsende Volumina aus Erneuerbaren stellen das System vor neue Herausforderungen, denn: zuverlässig und kostengünstig soll es trotzdem bleiben. Dafür braucht es klug gesetzte Investitionsrahmen für Erneuerbare und steuerbare Kapazitäten, vorausschauende Regelungen für lokale Signale sowie nachfrageseitige Flexibilitätsoptionen, die gesamtwirtschaftlich Sinn machen.

The BDI, together with a broad-based alliance of associations, has spoken out in favor of retaining the customer-owned facilities regulation, which is currently governed by Section 3, Nos. 65 and 66 of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG). We are seeking a solution at the European level. The Internal Market in Electricity Directive must be amended.

German industry continues to face significant pressure from low-cost imports and high energy prices. To provide targeted relief, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Reiche announced in November the introduction of an industrial electricity price. In addition, electricity price compensation will be expanded, subsidies for transmission network costs for 2026 will be granted, and the electricity tax reduction for the manufacturing sector will be made permanent. The BDI welcomes the measures but warns against restrictions on the industrial electricity price and false expectations created by the media.

The significant uncertainty currently surrounding the interpretation of the term “customer installation” in the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), following the rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), could lead to economic and business losses and is hindering urgently needed investments in Germany. Furthermore, the current situation also poses a risk to society as a whole that should not be underestimated. The functioning of the utility system could be fundamentally disrupted.

What will the energy system of the future look like? The BMWK has been working on this issue for over two years with various stakeholders, including the BDI. The jointly developed strategy is now open for public comment through January 31, 2025.

Deutschlands Stromsystem muss neu gedacht werden. Vor allem wachsende Volumina aus Erneuerbaren stellen das System vor neue Herausforderungen, denn: zuverlässig und kostengünstig soll es trotzdem bleiben. Dafür braucht es klug gesetzte Investitionsrahmen für Erneuerbare und steuerbare Kapazitäten, vorausschauende Regelungen für lokale Signale sowie nachfrageseitige Flexibilitätsoptionen, die gesamtwirtschaftlich Sinn machen.

In late July 2024, the Federal Network Agency published “Key Points for the Further Development of Industrial Grid Fees in the Electricity Sector.” This marked the start of a long-term process. The new grid fee regulations are scheduled to be finalized by the end of 2025. The planned reform focuses on incentivizing flexibility. In mid-September, the BDI submitted its statement on the matter to the Federal Network Agency.