FRANKFURT (Dow Jones) – The Federal Network Agency has the issue of cooperation of the German electricity transmission system operator decided against the proposal of RWE-owned network. (Photo: Anders)
No later than the end of May will now be implemented nationwide with the introduction of a general interconnection network known as the cooperative model, ordered by regulators on Tuesday.
Amprion, the daughter of the energy group RWE, had voted against the model of a central network controller. The web agency based its decision on the fact that the model of the network interconnection rule can be implemented quickly. The other three transmission system operators worked together in this way since last year, it added in the statement.
At the chosen now generally interconnected network of networks, the control remains in the hands of individual operators. However, data from this exchange, so that is minimized for the modulation of power imbalances in the required control energy networks. The model favored by Amprion would have created the other hand, a central control instance that would have made the arrangements for all networks.
RWE subsidiary, welcomed the decision and emphasized that "is created with the establishment of the Federal Network Agency, a reliable legal basis for a near term cooperation." The short-term implementation would be ensured.
On the other hand said the new Federal Energy Provider (bne) critical. The decision turn out to be unconstrained minimum solution, it was said by the bne. The association voted again for the model of the central network controller. This would bring many advantages – such as the supply of renewable energy, the wholesale electricity and the development of intelligent networks, said CEO Robert bne-Busch.
Matthias Kurth, president of the Federal Network Agency, estimated the savings per year to an amount in the hundreds of millions of dollars. "Given the enormous amount of short-term savings to be made in the amount of approximately EUR 16 million per month, a delay in raising this potential is not justifiable," he founded the short-term decision.
Amprion addition, there are three transmission system operators in Germany, all of which were assigned until recently the four big power producers. While at Amprion and the network subsidiary of energy group EnBW Karlsruhe is still the case, the Dusseldorf, E. ON AG has already sold its trading under the name under sheer power of the Dutch network operator TenneT. On Friday, the German Vattenfall also announced to sell its network to a consortium of Belgian Elia and an Australian infrastructure fund.
With the divestitures, the model discussed a "Deutsche Netz AG" in the opinion of observers is unlikely. Kurth said on Tuesday at a conference in Dusseldorf, that the idea of a network of AG was not dead. "Both companies did not include steps for further cooperation," he said, referring to TenneT and Elia. Amprion wants in his own words "a supportive and constructive, the objective of further strengthening cooperation."
Website: www.bundesnetzagentur.de
-By Martin Rapp, Dow Jones Newswires, +49 (0) 211 13 87 214;
martin.rapp @ dowjones.com
DJG / mmr / jhe / ISJ
