All things considered, the recently introduced e-legislation lacks the desired environmental friendliness.
The Austrian government has initiated discussions on two new energy laws: the Electricity Economics Act (EEA) and the Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act (EABG). These laws aim to lower electricity prices, manage the growing renewable energy sector, and expand the grid to accommodate this expansion.
The EEA is designed to lower electricity prices, but it may introduce network fees for owners of photovoltaic (PV) plants feeding electricity into the grid, based on the amount of electricity they feed in. On the other hand, the EABG focuses on accelerating grid expansion and renewable energy integration, although the exact grid fee for PV electricity feed-in remains unspecified in available sources.
Austria is aggressively expanding its renewable capacity, with private PV installations adding 2,400 MW by 2023. This growth poses operational challenges, including electricity feed-in and network management. Grid expansion by 2040 is expected to cost around 50 billion euros, and the new electricity market law, which includes the EABG, governs who pays these costs. This suggests that grid fees will likely reflect these investments.
In January 2025, Austria removed the household electricity price cap and increased grid fees, alongside reinstating energy levies, indicating a trend toward higher fees to support grid and energy transition costs. However, the exact grid fee amount or formula for PV feed-in under the EABG is not detailed in these sources.
Green Party leader Leonore Gewessler has fundamentally welcomed the draft but criticised it for a "significant deterioration" in climate protection, investment security, and fairness. The average electricity price for household customers is currently around 25 cents per kilowatt-hour. The amount to be paid for feeding electricity into the grid is currently not clear.
Grid charges will be set by the independent regulatory authority (E-Control) and will take into account the actual network load and the provided performance. The Greens are currently skeptical about the proposals, and the FPÖ is opposed. Both laws require the approval of the Greens, as they can only be passed with a constitutional majority in Austria.
The expansion of renewable energy acceleration strategies are not yet clear in the new laws. However, it can be inferred that grid fees for feeding electricity from PV plants will likely increase to help cover the substantial grid expansion and upgrading costs necessary for integrating the growing renewable capacity safely and securely. The new law also aims to ensure cost allocation transparency among producers and consumers in the electricity market, which may include differentiated grid fees based on the type and location of generation.
Running large appliances during peak times (around 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.) may lead to higher electricity costs. Conversely, running washing machines and dishwashers at night could result in lower electricity costs.
500,000 households with photovoltaics may have to pay for feeding in electricity into the grid. The details of the amount to be paid for feeding electricity into the grid are not yet clear. SPÖ energy spokesman Alois Schroll welcomes the fact that citizen participation in projects remains in place.
Green Party leader Leonore Gewessler will discuss the text with those affected and oppose the idea of punishing those who protect the climate with their own PV system. For a precise figure or rate of the grid fee under the EABG, the official legislation text or regulatory announcements by Austrian grid operators (such as APG) would need to be consulted directly, as public summaries currently provide only the broader financial and policy framework.
- The new Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act (EABG) in Austria aims to expand grid capacity, focused on integrating renewable energy sources.
- The EABG also intends to clarify cost allocation among producers and consumers in the electricity market, potentially leading to differentiated grid fees based on the type and location of generation.
- The expansion of renewable energy capacity in Austria means operational challenges, such as electricity feed-in and network management, also pose costs, estimated to reach around 50 billion euros by 2040.
- The European Green Party has criticized the EABG for a "significant deterioration" in climate protection, investment security, and fairness, and the details of the grid fees for feeding electricity into the grid under the EABG remain unspecified.
- It has been suggested that grid fees for feeding electricity from PV plants will likely increase to cover the substantial grid expansion and upgrading costs necessary for integrating the growing renewable capacity securely and safely.
- Large appliances run during peak times could lead to higher electricity costs, but running appliances at night, such as washing machines and dishwashers, could potentially result in lower electricity costs.
