Giessen. On 21 December, the town of Lollar, the municipality of Biebertal and the municipality of Lahnau each signed a new easement agreement for the electricity grid with Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) until 2032.
Over the past few weeks, the representatives of the municipalities had already voted by a large majority in favour of the cooperation with SWG - and thus against the previous concession partner Eon Mitte.
Manfred Siekmann, CEO of SWG, emphasised at the signing ceremony: "We are extremely pleased to seal our new partnerships with Lollar, Biebertal and Lahnau today." Dr Bernd Wieczorek, Mayor of Lollar, Thomas Bender, Mayor of Biebertal, and Eckhard Schultz, Mayor of Lahnau, emphasised that SWG's offer had convinced the respective decision-making bodies. One of the decisive factors was that they would have a regionally rooted partner with a great deal of expertise at their side in future.
The 20-year contracts were signed by the mayors, their first deputies and the two board members Manfred Siekmann and Reinhard Paul from Stadtwerke Gießen at the company's headquarters in Lahnstrasse. Reinhard Paul emphasised: "Particularly in view of the new requirements that the energy transition places on the distribution grids, functioning and close cooperation is of great importance - for example, if a city or municipality is involved in the expansion of renewable energies on site. We need to equip the grid for such a challenge."
Joint grid company option
According to the Energy Industry Act, the concession agreement authorises energy companies to operate electricity or gas grids on or under public roads, cycle paths, pavements and squares and to lay cables. The company pays an annual fee to the local authority for the use of these paths.
SWG is now in negotiations with the current owner, Eon Mitte, to take over the electricity grids in the three municipalities. At the same time, Lollar, Biebertal and Lahnau have the option of founding a grid company with Stadtwerke Gießen. The municipalities can then acquire a share of up to 49 per cent of the grid in their area as shareholders - depending on their financial possibilities and with complete flexibility. The three municipalities and SWG will meet for further talks in February 2013 to discuss the organisation of this option.