If the local power grid threatens to collapse, network operators should be able to reduce the power consumption of heat pumps and private charging stations in the future. The Federal Network Agency published rules for such emergencies at the end of November. Accordingly, all controllable consumption devices that go into operation from the beginning of 2024 must allow their output to be temporarily limited and be able to be controlled remotely accordingly. In return, the owners benefit from reduced network fees. But what does practice look like? Is there already one of the 866 network operators who could dim the electricity supply?
The energy industry association BDEW is not yet aware of any distribution network operator who is already dimming. “But that does not mean that existing systems are not still controlled according to the old regulations,” emphasizes the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW). Network operators have long been intervening in customers’ electricity purchases on a voluntary basis. According to the Federal Network Agency, consumers granted network operators nationwide access to over 1.8 million systems in 2022, mostly night storage heaters (58 percent) and heat pumps (39 percent).
Network operators are allowed to throttle – household electricity is not affected
According to the new rules, distribution network operators are allowed to reduce the electricity consumption of new consumption facilities to up to 4.2 kilowatts for the duration of the overload. “This means that heat pumps can continue to operate and electric cars can usually be recharged for a 50-kilometer journey in two hours,” explains the Federal Network Agency. Regular household electricity is not affected. In return, the operators of controllable devices, such as households, receive a discount.
The new rules also stipulate that the network operator may no longer refuse or delay the connection of new heat pumps or private charging devices on the grounds of possible local network overload. If bottlenecks occur, the network must be expanded. In the event of a bottleneck, the network operators are not allowed to simply control and dim the systems on suspicion, but must first determine the exact network utilization based on real-time measured values.
The new rules have been in effect for new systems since January. For existing systems for which there is already an agreement for control by the network operator, there are long-standing transitional regulations. Existing systems without such an agreement remain permanently excluded, but can participate voluntarily. Night storage heaters should not be permanently subject to the new rules.
Grid-oriented control requires smart meters
The rules are one thing, the needs are another: a lot of effort is required before so-called network-oriented control becomes possible. “The basis for this is the determination of the network status, taking into account network models and calculations as well as the corresponding measurement, control and communication technology at the customer,” explains the VKU municipal utilities association. Such a control requires an intelligent measuring system with a control box, also known as a smart meter, at the customer connection. The VKU also does not assume that distribution network operators are currently conducting network-oriented control on a larger scale outside of model projects. The reason is that there are no certified control boxes for the systems yet.
The BDEW assumes that distribution network operators will only install new control technology when there is actually a need for it on the network side. According to the BDEW, it is still unclear when the first distribution network operators will intervene with dimming. This is due, among other things, to the intensity of the ramp-up of controllable consumption devices such as heat pumps and wallboxes as well as to the expansion of the network.
BDEW expects standardization of control technology
According to BDEW, there will be standardization for the control technology. Proposals for this should be submitted by January 2025 at the latest. “Only then will control devices be ready for the market.” The BDEW assumes that network operators will initially work with a transition technology if necessary.
The network operators have until the end of 2028 to install the new technology. “From 2029, emergency measures may only be carried out on the basis of real-time data that the network operator receives from customers’ intelligent measurement systems,” emphasizes a spokesman for Germany’s largest distribution network operator Eon. Eon is currently installing around 5,000 intelligent grid stations and 300,000 smart meters every year. “These help us to reliably identify bottlenecks that arise in local networks.”
According to Netze BW, the smart meter control units required for network-oriented control are not yet available. The widespread introduction of this technology has not yet taken place due to strict data protection regulations. It will therefore not be possible to carry out active network control in 2024, explained technical managing director Martin Konermann. “We are closely monitoring developments in countries such as France, Italy and the Netherlands, where the implementation of smart meters is progressing successfully.” The goal remains to create the technical and legal basis to enable efficient network control in the near future. Netze BW is Germany’s third largest distribution network operator.
Eon: Bottlenecks in low voltage “extremely rare”
Eon emphasizes that the new regulations are an emergency instrument. “Our goal is always to limit control interventions on the part of network operators to the minimum,” said the Eon spokesman. “Bottlenecks in low voltage are extremely rare and we only expect control interventions – if at all – in absolutely exceptional cases.”
The operator EWE Netz also wants to adapt its electricity network “as quickly as possible” to the ramp-up of e-mobility and heat pumps. A company spokesman explained that the prerequisite for full control is, among other things, that the network operator determines its network status and bottleneck analyzes on the basis of new digital specifications. The Federal Network Agency initially only set key points for digitalization. Many procedural aspects are still open.
