Construction cost levy in 2026: An overview of the changes

At the beginning of 2026, construction cost levies for grid operators also changed.

Brief explanation: What exactly is a construction cost levy?

Construction cost levies ("Baukostenzuschuss" - BKZ) are one-off payments that electricity consumers need to make to the grid operator when connecting to the grid for the first time or upgrading an existing grid connection. It is not used to pay the actual connection costs, but to co-finance general expansion of the power grid resulting from the connection need.

Legal situation: Should the BKZ for battery storage be abolished?

As already indicated in our blog post on the BKZ 2025, the BKZ for battery storage systems (BESS) will not be abolished. With its July 15, 2025 ruling (Ref. EnVR1/24), the Federal Court of Justice provided legal clarity: Grid operators may levy a BKZ for the connection of battery storage systems despite their dual function as generators and consumers. The Federal Court of Justice thereby followed the assessment of the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), that BESS are to be treated like other end-consumers.

Calculation logic: How is the BKZ calculated?

The position paper published by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) in November 2024 realigned the calculation of BKZ for grid connections above low voltage. Since 2024, the BKZ has been calculated on the basis of the arithmetic mean of the power prices of the last five years in order to cushion strong price fluctuations and increase planning security. After the BKZ showed significant fluctuations in its first year of application, an increasing stabilization can be observed for 2026.

Exceptions: What about flexible grid connection agreements?

In practice, however, there may be exceptions to the pricing of BKZ, even for battery storage systems. According to the BNetzA position paper, a permanently and unrestrictedly agreed connection capacity is decisive for the collection of BKZ. If this is not the case, an appropriate reduction in the BKZ is possible, provided that the prices are transparent, uniform, and non-discriminatory. For example, reduced BKZ can be applied to flexible grid connection agreements in accordance with Section 17 (2b) EnWG. This applies, for example, to large industrial consumers with load management and, depending on the grid operator, also to flexibly connected battery storage systems. The reason: the full load is not needed at all times, which reduces grid expansion requirements.

One example of this is Bayernwerk Netz GmbH, which provides for a 70% reduction in the BKZ for flexible grid connection agreements. This is based on the contractually “fixed, non-permanently available capacity” (see price list). Other grid operators additionally cushion the construction cost levies calculated as a result of sharply increased capacity prices. For example, ÜZ Mainfranken eG points out that high and volatile energy prices in recent years have led to a significant increase in capacity prices and thus in the five-year average. In order to mitigate an excessive increase in BKZ, there will be a reduction of 10-20% compared to the five-year average in 2026 (see price sheet).

What does this mean in practice?

It is clear that, despite a certain stabilization, the BKZ are not fixed. They continue to change, usually on an annual basis, and at the same time, remain highly location-dependent. Different power prices and regulations apply depending on the grid area and grid operator, so that the amount of BKZ depends largely on where a grid connection is required. This is also shown in the following maps, which show the 2026 distribution of BKZ (top) for the medium-voltage level and the percentage vs 2025 (bottom).

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The largest absolute increase was recorded by E-Werke Haniel Haimhausen north of Munich with +€117/kW. In relative terms, it was Stadtwerke Pirmasens near Saarbrücken that more than tripled its BKZ from €48.5 to €154/kW.

Among the major network operators, the largest increase was recorded by Netze BW with +€87/kW, closely followed by EAM Netz with +€84/kW. In relative terms, WEMAG recorded the largest increase, with the BKZ there also almost tripling from €39 to €108/kW.

However, there were also grid operators that reduced their BKZ. In percentage terms, Westfalen Weser Netz (-25% from €164 to €125/kW) and Überlandwerke Mittelbaden (-23% from €176 to €136/kW) are at the forefront. In absolute terms, the strongest reduction in the BKZ was at Gemeindewerke Niefern-Öschelbronn near Pforzheim, at -€46/kW.

For dvlp customers, it's worthwhile taking a close look at the regionally applicable BKZ in 2026. We therefore continue to provide our users with the current BKZ in the dvlp web GIS.

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