Homeowners who plan to disconnect their gas connections to switch to heat pumps or district heating could previously face costs amounting to thousands of euros. However, the German government is working to provide legal clarity on this issue, as reported by “Der Spiegel” citing a response from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs to a written inquiry from Green Party deputy Alaa Alhamwi. According to the ministry’s response, the gas network operator is not entitled to demand reimbursement from a property owner whose house is connected to the local gas grid for measures involving temporary or permanent decommissioning. This rule is part of a draft law intended to implement the EU Gas and Hydrogen Internal Market Package, which the federal cabinet approved at the end of March, and which still needs to be addressed by the Bundestag. Alhamwi told “Der Spiegel” that this regulation is overdue to protect consumers from “unfair additional costs when installing a heat pump”. The transition to heat pumps is expected to accelerate, partly due to persistently high prices for fossil fuels. Nevertheless, Alhamwi added that “we must also be aware that it will become more expensive for those who remain connected to the gas network, the more households leave it”. The federal government stated that the regulation incentivizes cost minimization because the network operator can ensure a cost-effective procedure. Furthermore, the state’s approach suggests that the network operator can pass on (or “reallocate”) the costs related to decommissioning through existing gas network fees, making the switch to more climate-friendly heating options more affordable for households that wish to move away from gas.
German Government Easing Cost to Switch To Heat Pumps and District Heating
