Renewable energy surcharge in 2016:
Facts and background
The exact renewable energy surcharge (also known as the EEG surcharge) is determined using forecasts for revenue and
expenditure in 2016, taking into account the balance on the renewable energy surcharge account on 30 September 2015.
It is set by the transmission system operators on the basis of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (German abbreviation:
EEG) and the Equalisation Scheme Ordinance, and is published on 15 October at the latest. In order to arrive at the
right figure, the transmission system operators ask established research institutions to help them forecast their expected
expenditure based on scientific data (particularly tariffs and market premiums for the plant operations) and revenues
(particularly from the marketing of electricity covered by the Renewable Energy Sources Act), as well as the level of
electricity consumption subject to the surcharge. They also take into account the balance on the EEG account on 30
September and a ‘liquidity reserve’. As part of its supervision of abuse of dominant market positions, the Federal Network
Agency examines whether all legislation has been complied with in the setting of the renewable energy surcharge.
The 2016 renewable energy surcharge has been set at 6.35 cents/kWh, up slightly from 2015 (rise of 0.18 cents/kWh).
The price of conventional and renewable electricity is determined by the sum of the price on the electricity exchange
and the renewable energy surcharge. This sum reached a record 10.55 cents/kWh in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, it fell twice
in succession, and the relevant figure will probably continue to decline in 2016 (see graph). The rise in costs seen over
the previous years has been halted as a result of the fundamental reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act.
Sum of the price on the electricity exchange and the renewable energy surcharge in cent/kWh
10.55
10.46
9.96
9.58
9.77
8.96
4.22
3.79
3.42
6.24
6.17
6.35
2014
2015
2016
5.27
5.99
5.43
5.28
3.53
3.59
2011
2012
The renewable energy surcharge
2013
Electricity price (Phelix frontyear future: 70% base, 30% peak)
Source: own calculations based on information from www.netztransparenz.de and the European Energy Exchange
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The fall in the sum of the price on the electricity exchange and the renewable energy surcharge is already being
reflected in prices for final consumers. This year, electricity prices for private households fell for the first time in
many years. In order to benefit from falling prices, electricity consumers will have to continue comparing electricity tariffs regularly and, if necessary, switch to a different tariff or swap providers.
Average price of electricity for a private household in cent/kWh
Annual consumption of 3,500 kWh
25.23
4.03
3.53
0.03
29.14
4.60
4.65
5.28
6.24
6.17
0.53
0.44
2.05
2.05
1.66
1.66
6.63
6.75
28.71
4.59
4.13
3.59
0.71
0.15
2.05
2.05
1.66
1.66
1.66
5.92
6.14
6.64
8.01
8.16
7.91
7.38
7.05
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2.05
VAT
25.89
28.84
EEG surcharge
Combined-Heat-and-Power Act & Energy Industry Act surcharges
Electricity tax
Concession levy
Grid fees
Procurement, sales
Source: 2015 Electricity price analysis undertaken by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries
2014 revision of the Renewable Energy Sources Act makes a major contribution to stabilising the
renewable energy surcharge
●●
The 2014 Renewable Energy Sources Act is helping to keep the 2016 EEG surcharge down. It stipulates binding deployment corridors, designates the low-cost technologies of onshore wind and photovoltaics as priorities for continuing expansion, ends excessive financial assistance, and restricts the
creation of additional capacities for biomass, which is comparatively expensive. In comparison with
the 2012 Renewable Energy Sources Act, the redesign of the special equalisation scheme in 2014 has
the effect of reducing the EEG surcharge. According to studies by the transmission system operators,
the amount of electricity subject to these special rules is declining (-5 percent), and the beneficiary
companies are paying a higher renewable energy surcharge. This means that the total amount of
reduced payments will fall slightly, dropping to 4.7 billion Euros (2015: 4.8 billion Euros).
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●●
The application procedure for companies wishing to take advantage of the special equalisation scheme
in the coming year, which closed in June, affirms this trend, with the number of companies submitting
applications (including railways and independent business units) falling slightly – to 2,296 (compared
with 2,465 in the previous year).
●●
The financial burden is being distributed fairly. A third of the renewable energy surcharge is
financed by private households, a third by commerce, trade, and services, and a further third by
industry.
Financial contribution according to end consumer group
1%
Transport
Industry
Private households
35 %
32 %
32 %
Commerce, trade, and services
Source: Transmission system operators (www.netztransparenz.de)
How credit in the renewable energy surcharge account is managed
●●
Credit in the renewable energy surcharge account remains in the system. The balance of the surcharge account
on 30 September was 2.5 billion Euros and was automatically taken into account when the level of the surcharge in 2016 was determined (‘balancing of account’).
●●
The benefits of any surpluses are fully returned to the electricity consumer. The renewable energy surcharge is
lower than if there was no balancing of account. Incidentally, the same is also true for any interest earned on
credit on the renewable energy surcharge account, which is administered by transmission system operators in
the form of a trust.
15. October 2015
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