Provisional network charges for 2027

Due to the reduced federal subsidy, coupled with increased costs, there will be a slight rise in network charges for 2027

15.10.2027

Berlin’s households must be prepared for a slight increase in network charges in the coming year. In particular, higher costs charged to Stromnetz Berlin from the upstream transmission grid will lead to a moderate increase. For the average Berlin household with an annual energy consumption of 1,950 kilowatt hours (kWh), this represents an increase of around 1.40 euros per month.

The increase in network charges by Berlin's distribution network operator can primarily be attributed to higher energy prices in the German transmission grids. At the start of October, the four transmission system operators (TSOs) – 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT Deutschland and TransnetBW – published the provisional uniform nationwide network charges for 2027. Based on this information, the average network charge at transmission grid level will rise to 3.54 cents per kilowatt hour (ct/kWh) next year, up from 2.86 ct/kWh in 2026. The TSOs attribute this increase to a federal subsidy that is around €1 billion lower in 2027 than in 2026, as well as to higher costs. In particular, they cite congestion management, which prevents power grid overloads, as well as rising investment in grid infrastructure.

In the previous year, the German federal government had subsidised the TSOs’ network charges by around €6.5 billion. Subject to the respective legislation being passed, the level of subsidy for the TSOs will likely be set at €5.525 billion a year from 2027 to 2029. Without this planned subsidy, the network charge at the extra-high voltage level would rise to 6.52 ct/kWh – an increase of almost 100 percent.*

Stromnetz Berlin has performed network charge calculations

Following the announcement by the TSOs on the adjustment of their charges for 2027, the Berlin distribution network operator has also calculated its provisional network charges for 2027 and published them today.

Based on the information, Berlin households should expect a slight increase in network charges in 2027. Around three quarters of the increases can be attributed to higher charges at the upstream transmission grid level. Around one quarter are due to Stromnetz Berlin’s increasing investments in grid expansion and ensuring that the power grid remains fit for the future as the city grows.

In concrete terms, this means: The network charges for Berlin's domestic customers in 2027 will continue to comprise an unchanged annual standing charge of 39.70 euros and a slightly increased sliding unit price of 9.73 cents per kilowatt hour (previously 8.88 ct/kWh). For the average Berlin household with an annual energy consumption of 1,950 kilowatt hours (kWh) and a modern electricity meter, this represents an increase of around 7 percent.

Network charges make up about one quarter of the electricity price

Network charges are part of the electricity price and are levied equally via the electricity rates of all the suppliers active in Berlin. On average, they represent around one quarter of the electricity price. Network charges comprise the costs for transporting electricity, the costs for operating the meters, for meter reading and billing, as well as the cost of the upstream transmission grid. The level of the network charges is determined in accordance with the specifications of the German Electricity Network Fee Regulation Ordinance (StromNEV) and the German Incentive Regulation Ordinance (ARegV).

Under Section 20 (1) of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG), Stromnetz Berlin GmbH must publish the following year's charges for grid access online by 15 October of each year. The provisional network charges are now available at www.stromnetz.berlin/entgelte. By publishing this information, Stromnetz Berlin has informed all suppliers and customers of the adjustment of network charges. All of the published charges are provisional. Changes may still be made up to the effective date of 1 January 2027.

(*Note: from a press release issued by the transmission system operators on 1 October 2026: "… The transmission system operators welcome the planned decision to make the subsidy for transmission network charges permanent and to continue it up to and including 2029 for the benefit of network customers. Under the draft legislation from 2 September 2026, the subsidy is likely to be €5.525 billion per year during this period. At the time of publication, however, the legislation providing for a subsidy towards transmission network costs from 2027 to 2029 has not yet been passed. The provisional network charges are therefore subject to the legislation being passed by the German parliament. If there is no legal certainty by 7 December 2026, the final uniform nationwide transmission network charges for 2027 can be expected to increase accordingly …")