German Environment Ministry criticises forecast for growth in EGG levy

Nov 16, 2011 - Germany's Environment Ministry announced today that the forecast released by the four biggest transmission system operators (TSOs) that envisages growth in the levy under the German Renewable Energy Act (EGG) in 2013 is not realistic.

Power grid operators announced on Tuesday that according to their medium-term forecast, the EGG levy, or the surcharge on consumers' electricity bills for green energy, will increase to between EUR 0.037 (USD 0.05) and EUR 0.047 per kilowatt hour in 2013.

However, according to the Environment Ministry, the forecast made by the TSOs stands at the upper end of the calculations and includes unclear special factors. The ministry, on the other hand, expects the EGG levy to remain unchanged in both 2012 and 2013 or to go up slightly in the worst case. According to power grid operators and the Federal Network Agency, the EEG levy will grow to EUR 0.036 in 2012 from a current EUR 0.035 per kilowatt hour.

In addition, the Environment Ministry also expects a slower increase in the amount of electricity generated by renewables sources in 2013 than the projection released by the TSOs.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.352)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!