Paragraph 14a of Germany’s Energy Industry Act (EnWG) gives distribution system operators a last-resort tool to temporarily reduce the maximum power of specific flexible devices – like EV chargers, heat pumps and home batteries – to avoid local grid congestion. Crucially, it protects comfort: lights stay on; assets are only slowed, not switched off. See our glossary entry on Paragraph 14a.
The 2024 amendment modernizes 14a EnWG for a renewables-heavy, decentralized grid. It balances two goals: accelerate electrification (EVs, heat pumps) while keeping networks stable. DSOs must generally accept new flexible assets, and participating households are rewarded with reduced grid fees – removing barriers to adoption.
When DSOs foresee local congestion, they send a secure signal via Germany’s smart-meter infrastructure. That signal limits only the affected flexible devices’ draw for a short window. With an energy management system (EMS) like gridX, homes get transparency, smart prioritization, and PV/battery optimization to maintain comfort.
14a EnWG applies to flexible, high-load devices: EV charging points (wallboxes), heat pumps, and stationary batteries (PV generation interacts via related rules). Typical household loads – lighting and “white goods” like washing machines – aren’t curtailed. The rules chiefly affect assets installed from 2024 onward and come with annual grid-fee reductions for participants.
“Paragraph 14a gives DSOs a tool to reduce only the maximum power of certain devices for a short time – your lights don’t go out; your car just charges slower.”
“The aim is twofold: enable the energy transition by accepting new heat pumps and EV chargers, and keep the grid stable when local demand spikes.”
“Using an EMS means transparency and smarter control. If dimming occurs, PV and batteries can help keep comfort high while complying with 14a EnWG.”
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