Grid expansion in Saxony: EnviaM boss criticizes federal government for slow progress

EnviaM, the energy supplier from eastern Germany, has criticized the federal government for the protracted grid expansion in Germany. According to CEO Stephan Lowis, the federal government is forgetting about grid expansion, which is criminal. Lowis stressed that while targets relating to the energy turnaround were good, a plan was also needed to achieve them. Without grid expansion, he said, this would not be possible. Lowis called for specifications for the number of new grids and transformer stations to facilitate future planning.

In addition, Lowis called for a fairer distribution of grid expansion costs. So far, mainly states in the north of Germany have made demands for a fairer distribution of so-called grid fees. Because of the many wind turbines in the region, the costs for grids are higher, which in turn leads to higher electricity prices. Lowis described this as unfair, as the states in the northeast are bearing the brunt of the energy transition. He proposed a uniform distribution of grid expansion burdens among all customers, regardless of their location, and expressed openness to a state-funded solution.

EnviaM supplies more than 1.3 million customers in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Thuringia with electricity, gas and heat.