Paragraph 14a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) addresses the management of energy demand to prevent overloads in the electricity grid. It allows grid operators to temporarily reduce the output of controllable energy-consuming assets during high-demand periods, ensuring grid stability and security of supply. In return, consumers benefit from reduced grid fees.

The ripple control receiver acts as a mediator between large electrical consumers in your house and the energy supply company. It works like a remote control that regulates the transmission of electricity from the grid to the appliances in the building. In Germany, in exchange for allowing the power grid to control your devices, you can get a lower network fee.

Since January 1, 2024, newly installed EV charging stations from 4.2 kW must be controllable by the grid operator and registered. The government sets rules for these reduced fees based on different situations. There are two options:

a fixed reduction in grid fees, around €160 per year,

or a 60% reduction in your consumption costs.

In the first case, the discount ranges from 110 to 190 EUR per year, depending on the network area. The second option requires a separate meter. From 2025, it should also be possible to choose a time-variable grid fee, making charging cheaper when the electricity grid is less utilized.