Overview
- The Bundesnetzagentur published a Festlegungsentwurf on Thursday, October 15, 2026, that would impose a 'Prosumer' surcharge raising the network basic price (Grundpreis) for households that self‑consume solar power.
- The draft specifies an increase of roughly 70–90 percent on the Grundpreis for affected customers while exempting plug‑in balcony PV units, and the agency says the change is meant to make cost sharing fairer because prosumers still rely on the public grid.
- The regulator estimates additional costs for most PV owners at under €100 per year, but the industry group BSW warns the fee could reach about €165 a year and calls it a penalty on prior investments in panels and batteries.
- Eleven energy, housing and craft associations issued a joint appeal on October 15 asking the agency to drop or revise the surcharge, backed by a legal opinion from Dörte Fouquet that questions the rule’s lawfulness and the inclusion of existing installations.
- The Bundesnetzagentur aims to decide by the end of 2026 and to put the new charging rules into force from January 1, 2029, making political fights and likely court challenges the next key developments to watch.