Habeck’s exchange obligation
Head of Network Agency: Era of gas heating is coming to an end
03/18/2023, 02:00 am
Could millions of new heat pumps or e-cars bring the German power grid to its knees? Netzagentur boss Müller does not want to rule that out. Nevertheless, he thinks it is right that Economics Minister Habeck is heralding the end of gas heating.
The head of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, would welcome an end to gas heating. When asked whether he thinks Economics Minister Robert Habeck’s plan to ban the installation of such devices from 2024 is a good plan, Müller told the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post”: “Private households have great potential for saving gas, “The time for gas heating is running out. That’s why the traffic light stipulated in the coalition agreement that by January 1, 2025, every newly installed heating system should be operated on the basis of 65 percent renewable energies.” Now we are waiting for the bill.
Heat pumps as alternatives are nevertheless a challenge for the networks, Müller told the newspaper: “These amounts of electricity are an additional task for the large transport networks. But the real challenge with these consumers is that some distribution networks have people on their doorstep,” Müller continued. “Because everyone wants to heat up at the same time. And electric cars may all be charged at the same time when people come home from work. And that can put a lot of strain on the transformer around the corner.”
The head of the network agency explained that suppliers should not disconnect heat pumps and charging stations for e-cars even in emergencies: “Only if the local network operator cannot otherwise avert a risk to network stability can he temporarily dim the output. He may heat pumps and But don’t switch off charging stations completely.”
“Gas prices will only drop in six to twelve months”
Müller did not want to promise the Germans that gas prices could fall in the short term. It will still be some time before consumers feel any relief. “It will probably take another six to twelve months before the reduction in wholesale prices for gas and electricity also reaches household customers. This is due to the term of the contracts and the purchasing strategy of the company,” Müller told the newspaper and added: ” However, it will not be as cheap as it was in 2021.”
In the long run, Müller gets the citizens in the mood for higher energy prices: “The wholesale prices for gas, which had risen to over 300 euros per megawatt in late summer, have fallen to around 50 euros. That is far more than in 2021, but the new normal . We have to get used to higher prices, the era of cheap energy from Russia is finally over,” said the head of the network agency.
Many customers complained about their public utilities, said Müller: “We get a lot of complaints from consumers who criticize the high prices of their supplier.” Consumers would have a special right of termination if prices were increased. “And if companies violate the rights of consumers – as with Voxenergie and Primastrom last year – the Federal Network Agency can take action.”