Factsheet for measure
DE-2026-1/4266
– measures in Germany
Electricity grid fees
Stromnetzentgelte
Background information
The measure of lower electricity grid fees is part of a larger electricity price relieve package adopted by the federal government in the second half of 2025. With bringing electricity prices down, the federal government hopes to contribute to German economic recovery, returning to an economic growth path and safeguard jobs.
To make these changes possible, the Electricity Tax Act was amended with changes taking effect on 1 January 2026.
Content of measure
The federal government decided to lower electricity grid fees for private households and certain companies. Therefore, the four main transmission operators in Germany will receive a federal subsidy worth €6.5 billion (in total). Transmission operators need to take the granted subsidy into account when calculating the grid charges for 2026. In addition, they need to detail how the subsidy is passed on to electricity consumers and it affects electricity prices.
The federal government expects that a household using 3,500 kWh can save around €100 in 2026 due to this measure. However, savings will depend on many individual factors (e.g. what operator is used, insualtion of the residential building or apartement size).
The continued lower electricity grid charges will apply to all private households in 2026. In addition, the measure foresees that manufacturing companies and farmers will benefit from the lower charges on an open-ended basis.
Use of measure
The federal government states on its website that around 600,000 manufacturing companies and farmers will benefit from this measure as well as all private households.
Target groups
Actors and funding
|
Actors
|
Funding
|
National government
|
National funds
|
Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
|
Trade unions
|
Employers' organisations
|
|
Role
|
Consulted
|
Consulted
|
|
Form
|
Direct consultation outside a formal body
|
Direct consultation outside a formal body
|
Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
-
Social partners jointly
-
Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
As is customary, social partners were able to provide their input in an expert hearing of the German Bundestag (national parliament) in autumn 2025.
Views and reactions
Social partners, such as the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), the Federal Association of the German Industries (BDI) and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (2025) provided their expert input in an expert hearing of the German Bundestag (national parliament) in November 2025. All organisations welcomed lowering grid fees as private households and industrial consumers needed relieve from high prices. Moreover, the measure could be implemented speedily though having impacting energy bills differently.
Sectors and occupations
-
This case is sector-specific (only private sector)
-
|
Economic area
|
Sector (NACE level 2)
|
|
A - Agriculture, Forestry And Fishing
|
A1 Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities
|
|
C - Manufacturing
|
C10 Manufacture of food products
|
|
C11 Manufacture of beverages
|
|
C12 Manufacture of tobacco products
|
|
C13 Manufacture of textiles
|
|
C14 Manufacture of wearing apparel
|
|
C15 Manufacture of leather and related products
|
|
C16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials
|
|
C17 Manufacture of paper and paper products
|
|
C18 Printing and reproduction of recorded media
|
|
C19 Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products
|
|
C20 Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products
|
|
C21 Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations
|
|
C22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products
|
|
C23 Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
|
|
C24 Manufacture of basic metals
|
|
C25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment
|
|
C26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products
|
|
C27 Manufacture of electrical equipment
|
|
C28 Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.
|
This case is not occupation-specific.
Sources
