Suche
Mein Konto
Northern Germany is fighting for cheaper light: Strong voices from the north!
North German government leaders are calling for different electricity price zones to reduce electricity prices and promote renewable energies.
Northern Germany is fighting for cheaper light: Strong voices from the north!
The discussion about electricity prices in Germany is taking on new dimensions. The heads of government of Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen and Brandenburg are demanding loudly World the abolition of the uniform electricity bidding zone. This demand aims to introduce different electricity bidding zones in order to reduce electricity prices in northern Germany in particular. Wind power from the north has grown significantly in recent years, but the expansion of the necessary power grids in the south is lagging behind.
As Hamburg's First Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) explains, different electricity bidding zones offer an incentive for the regional expansion of electricity networks and renewable energies. Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) also sees the distribution of electricity prices as a possible solution, especially if grid expansion slows down. The goal is clear: regions with good renewable energies should benefit from lower prices, while areas with higher prices are put under pressure to expand their networks and renewable energies.
Regional differences in focus
The need for different electricity price zones is also highlighted by a new EU study. This recommends dividing Germany into several electricity regions in order to regulate the large imbalance between supply and demand. While northern Germany is blessed with a lot of wind energy, the south simply needs more electricity. The lack of power lines means that gas power plants are being started up in the south, which is causing prices to rise further daily news.
The current discussion revolves around the question of the optimal number of zones. Examples from other countries such as Sweden, which has been divided into four price zones since 2011, show that such models can definitely work. The advantage of regional price zones would be better use of renewable energies and the relief of the network, which would be particularly attractive for companies in regions rich in electricity. According to the ENTSO-E study, the introduction of different price zones could lead to savings worth millions across Germany Deutschlandfunk.
Encounter resistance
However, there is also resistance to these plans. Bavaria in particular always rejects price sharing because it is feared that this could lead to a competitive disadvantage for companies in the south. For companies, potential electricity prices will rise in regions with high demand, which could lead to an exodus from these areas.
While the federal government is currently sticking to the uniform electricity bidding zone, new developments and proposals show the need and urgency for a rethink. The price of electricity in mid-2025 will be around 40 cents per kilowatt hour - slightly lower than in the previous year, but still above the level before the energy crisis of 2022. A switch to regional price zones could sustainably improve the market structure and advance the energy transition.
It remains to be seen whether politicians will respond to the voices from the northern German states or whether the uniform price zone will continue to exist.