2024-03-19 10:07:27
Vienna (OTS) – With the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG), the Austrian electricity market is to receive a new “operating system”. The long-awaited draft was intensively discussed in the industry: a total of 132 statements from federal states, companies and interest groups as well as 1,200 individual statements were received by the Ministry for Climate Protection. On March 18, the parties’ energy spokespersons discussed the topic as part of a trend forum organized by Oesterreichs Energie.
The expectations of the new market model are high: The ElWG is the national implementation of the long overdue European Electricity Market Directive and is intended to put essential areas of the electricity industry on a new footing. Minister Leonore Gewessler emphasized the importance of the law in her opening speech: “You have all waited a long time for the draft of the ElWG. I am all the more pleased that we are now close to implementation. This law makes electricity supply more resilient, flexible and climate-friendly. A lot has already been achieved with the laws and regulations that have already been passed. The energy transition has gained momentum – and this development can no longer be reversed. Now, with the ElWG, we are also bringing the operating system up to date.”
Networks as “enablers” of the energy transition
The new law is as extensive as it is complex: it describes the basic principles of market design, defines the rules for all actors, emphasizes the role of network operators as “enablers” of the energy transition and creates an expansion turbo for renewable electricity generation. “The numerous statements made as part of the assessment process underline the importance of this project,” said Gewessler. With the timely implementation of the ElWG and the already high proportion of renewable energy sources, Austria might take on a pioneering role in the EU.
In order for the “update of the operating system” with the ElWG to be successful, Gewessler appealed to pool constructive forces and focus on the essentials. Michael Strugl, President of Oesterreichs Energie, and Barbara Schmidt, Secretary General of Oesterreichs Energie, also emphasized in unison that the law must be passed during this legislative period. Strugl: “This is regarding setting a really important course for the transformation of the entire electricity sector. We urgently need modern legal bases and framework conditions that make this restructuring possible.” “If we don’t succeed in this legislative period, we will lose at least a year here, and we don’t have the time if we want to achieve the energy transition,” added Schmidt.
Commonalities in the foreground
During the panel discussion, Lukas Hammer, energy spokesman for the Greens, announced that there would be intensive discussions at the political level in the coming weeks in order to quickly come up with a government proposal. Basically, Hammer saw a lot of similarities in the draft, “even if a number of details are still being intensively discussed.” He was optimistic that the law can still be passed in the National Council at the beginning of July. Hammer saw monthly billing and flexible tariffs in particular as important innovations in the ElWG, alongside the definition of the term basic service and the development of a social tariff. For Hammer, temporary, flexible grid access is a basic prerequisite for ensuring that all operators – even the small ones – can actually feed in electricity, even “if we can still talk regarding the amount with certainty”.
Economic goals covered
Joachim Schnabel, spokesman for hydrogen for the ÖVP, emphasized that the different interests of the various players in the e-economy were well covered in the draft law. A focus must definitely be “on security of supply and location security”. Costs would have to be designed in such a way that the location, economy, jobs and added value were secured and maintained. It is precisely the dynamics of this process that will require adjustments and amendments in the future, and we must be prepared for this. Digitalization is “the key to enabling an overall system that is fit for the future”. Transparent and efficient data management in particular will be an important instrument in the future for planning and expanding networks.
Social shaping of the energy transition
Alois Schroll, energy spokesman for the SPÖ, confirmed the need for a modern legal basis, but demanded that consumers be relieved of the costs of the energy transition for his party’s approval. The energy transition must be designed socially. From his point of view, there is still “a lot of need for discussion” before a decision is made. Schroll welcomed the opportunities for new market participants, but the basic prerequisite for this was the expansion of the networks. The government has “overslept” this expansion so far. Schroll saw the still open Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act as a further example of “wasted” opportunities for growth and employment. Schroll welcomed a strong position by the regulator E-Control, but continued to demand “leeway for politics” in the sense of democratizing the energy system.
Increased transparency
Karin Doppelbauer, energy spokeswoman for NEOS, praised the ElWG draft as a “very good basis”. From NEOS’s point of view, the planned expansion of the networks is of enormous importance, but ultimately the law can only work “if people are taken along – at all levels”. Doppelbauer also called for more competition on the electricity market and in this context welcomed the opportunities for new market participants. She believed that customers had personal responsibility with regard to the variable monthly billing, but there needed to be a clear and transparent presentation of taxes and fees on the invoices. In general, Doppelbauer called for less political ideology in connection with the expansion of the electricity infrastructure, following all, affordable energy is a basic requirement for growth and prosperity. In this context, Doppelbauer quickly called for a comprehensive infrastructure expansion plan.
Decisions must be carefully considered
Gerhard Deimek, member of the FPÖ National Council, was positively surprised by many points in the draft. Nevertheless, climate neutrality is just as important as security of supply and economic prices. The expansion of renewables must be carried out sensibly and must not create unnecessary burdens for consumers and producers. Deimek also saw digitalization as essential, but with the smart meter, for example – and specifically the feedback to the energy supplier – the focus must be on a technology-compliant implementation and less on a quick solution. This is necessary in order to put the law on a sustainable footing. Strategically, certain decisions should continue to be left to politicians in the future and the regulator should act as the processor.
The government’s goal is to pass the electricity industry law in parliament by the summer. In order to be able to convert the energy system while it is still in operation and still make it affordable, safe and clean, further steps are needed in addition to a quick decision by the ElWG, emphasized Barbara Schmidt at the end of the event. The industry is currently waiting for further steps, particularly with regard to the Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act.
Questions & Contact:
Austria’s energy
Christian Zwittnig
Press spokesman
0043 1 50198 – 260; Mobil: 0043 676 845019260
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www.oesterreichsenergie.at
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