Berlin/Düsseldorf, 20. November 2024 Trading Hub Europe GmbH (THE) is setting the neutrality charge in accordance with Section 35e of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG) to secure the filling level requirements for gas storage facilities (gas storage neutrality charge) at 2.99 EUR/MWh from 1 January 2025.

The background to the neutrality  charge is the provisions of the EnWG, which in particular stipulate filling level requirements for storage facilities. Since the law came into force in 2022, various measures have been taken by THE in accordance with the legal requirements in order to increase security of supply. These include in particular the filling of various gas storage facilities.

The gas storage neutrality charge is significantly influenced by existing and forecast purchases and sales of storage volumes by THE and by the amount of the levyable volume. To date, the levy has been charged on SLP, RLM and volumes at cross-border interconnection points (GÜP) and virtual interconnection points (VIP) in accordance with legal requirements. However, the draft of the Third Act to Amend the Energy Industry Act provides for the gas storage surcharge to be levied only on SLP and RLM volumes from 1 January 2025. Assuming that the legislative process will be implemented with effect from 1 January 2025, THE has not taken the GÜP and VIP volumes into account when calculating the gas storage levy applicable from 1 January 2025. The latter, as well as the greater decline in the apportionable volume in the current period compared to the forecasts, will be included in the calculation of the new gas storage neutrality charge from 1 January 2025.

The next gas storage neutrality charge will be set on 1 July 2025.