EU governments are seeking to dilute proposed common rules for electricity-network charges, resisting one-size-fits-all requirements and pressing for national discretion. Talks also cover how grid-upgrade costs are shared and which projects receive scarce connection capacity.
The proposal would let the Commission establish a common structure and reference methodology, but Ireland’s Council Presidency says it would harmonise the methodology—not actual tariffs—and national regulators could depart from it in justified cases. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, Spain and the Netherlands want the Commission’s powers reduced or removed, favouring guidelines over binding rules.
EU data put network charges at 27% of household electricity bills and 21% of business bills; national taxes and levies added 24% and 16%, respectively. Factories, renewable projects and data centres are competing for limited grid connections. Denmark has announced an emergency law giving data centres the lowest priority.
