Section 14a EnWG and Heat Pumps, EVs, and Battery Storage

How You Can Save Around €140 a Year with Devices Like Heat Pumps, EV Chargers, and Battery Storage – Thanks to Section 14a EnWG

The energy transition not only brings ecological benefits, but also creates legal obligations that can offer financial advantages for consumers. One such example is Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG).

If you operate controllable consumption devices such as heat pumps or charging stations for electric vehicles, the new regulations allow you to actively support grid stability – and significantly reduce your energy costs. This blog post explains how the new rules work.

What Are Controllable Consumption Devices Under Section 14a EnWG?

Since 1 January 2024, a regulation allows your electricity consumption to be flexibly adjusted based on grid capacity to help relieve pressure on the electricity grid. This affects, among others:

• Private charging points for electric vehicles
• Heat pumps
• Cooling systems
• Battery storage systems

If you’ve installed one of these systems with more than 4.2 kW of grid connection power after 1 January 2024, the regulation applies directly to you. Systems commissioned before that date can voluntarily opt in.

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Practical Implementation

Since 1 January 2024, grid operators may no longer reject the connection of heat pumps or EV chargers based on local grid congestion. Instead, they are permitted to temporarily reduce the output of controllable devices to a maximum of 4.2 kW in case of imminent overload.

This measure is mandatory and ensures that essential functions, such as EV charging or operating a heat pump, remain available.

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How You Can Save Money with Section 14a EnWG

Participating in the system can save you several hundred euros annually on grid fees.

Important: Not all electricity suppliers currently pass these savings on. As one of the few providers, LUOX Energy passes the reduced grid fees on to you – retroactively from 1 January!

With the dynamic tariff LUOX Dynamisch, you can already save around €140 per year.

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The Most Important Steps

1. Register Your Device with the Grid Operator

If you’re planning to install a controllable consumption device, you must register it with your grid operator in advance. This is usually done online or by phone, and often handled by your installer.

If your system was installed before 1 January 2024 and hasn’t been reported to the grid operator yet, you must register it retrospectively. Contact your grid operator directly.

2. Meet the Technical Requirement

To participate in grid-friendly control under Section 14a EnWG, the following technical conditions must be met:

• Controllability: The operator must technically enable the system to be controlled (by fulfilling the grid operator’s technical connection requirements). However, no control technology needs to be installed yet. Placing an order with the grid or metering operator is sufficient to fulfill the obligation. The grid operator determines if control actions are needed and will only install control tech if necessary.

• You can also combine your §14a setup with an energy management system (EMS) that may enable controllability later on.

Installation of the required hardware must be done by certified professionals, and proper setup must be confirmed to the grid operator (e.g., via an installer’s certificate).

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3. Choose the Right Tariff Model

After installation, you must notify your grid operator through their portal – usually handled by your installer. Here you can also select the desired grid fee reduction model.

Available Grid Fee Reduction Modules

There are three modules available. For customers with LUOX Dynamisch, Module 1 is required, which from 2025 can be combined with Module 3.

Module 1

Valid from: 01/01/2024

• Type: Flat annual reduction in grid fees ‍
• Amount: Approx. €140 per year (gross) ‍
• Requirement: Combined metering of household and controllable device via a single meter

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Module 2

Valid from: 01/01/2024

• Type: 60% reduction of grid fee, calculated based on actual consumption ‍
• Ideal for: High-consumption systems like heat pumps ‍
• Requirement: Separate metering (second meter) for the controllable device

Module 3

Available from: 01/04/2025

• Type: Time-variable grid fee based on three daily time windows (peak, standard, low load) defined by the local grid operator ‍
• Goal: Incentivize electricity use during less congested times ‍
• Requirement: Must be actively selected in addition to Module 1; requires a smart metering system

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Important: Make sure your electricity provider actually passes on the reduced grid fees – most don’t yet. LUOX Energy is one of the few that does, and retroactively from 1 January! With LUOX Dynamisch, that means you already save approx. €140 per year.

Benefits for You

• Lower electricity costs: Save significantly on operating costs

• Grid stability: Help stabilize the electricity grid and support the energy transition

• Double effect: Combine §14a Module 3 with dynamic tariffs to benefit from two price signals

Make sure your new devices are compliant with §14a and that all necessary installations are made.

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How the Reduced Grid Fees Reach You

Many electricity providers don’t yet pass on reduced grid fees. So it’s important to choose your supplier wisely and compare tariffs.

LUOX Energy passes on the full reduction to its customers.

With the LUOX Dynamisch tariff, standard grid fees are used for billing and shown on your monthly invoice. Throughout the year, the grid operator settles grid fees with LUOX Energy per customer. If a reduction applies, LUOX Energy passes it on 1:1 to you in your next electricity bill – fully transparent.

At the beginning of 2025, you’ll see the first reduction on your invoice – including retroactive savings for 2024.

Conclusion

Section 14a EnWG gives you a chance to lower your energy costs while actively contributing to the energy transition. Use controllable devices like EV chargers, heat pumps, cooling systems, and battery storage to save money and support grid reliability.

But choose your energy provider wisely – most don’t pass on the savings yet. LUOX Energy does – transparently and retroactively.