An electricity bill that is too high? That was once the case – at least if the parties have their way. They want to make it easier for consumers to generate their own electricity.
A balcony power plant? Unimaginable a few years ago. After all, the devices were too expensive to buy and the bureaucratic hurdles for commissioning were too high. That has changed in recent months – not least since the Solar Package I came into force (read more about this in this article here).
Today, the Bundestag decided to make it easier to operate mini photovoltaic systems (mini PV systems), also known as plug-in solar devices. This news should be particularly pleasing for tenants and homeowners. However, the law still has to be passed by the Bundesrat.
The use of plug-in solar devices to generate electricity will in future be classified as a privileged measure under property ownership law and tenancy law. This innovation makes it easier for tenants and owners to switch to renewable energies and thus actively contribute to climate protection. By including them in the catalogue of preferred measures, the installation of such devices will be simplified, thus promoting the use of sustainable energy generation directly at home, explains the German Bundestag.
The law also grants tenants and homeowners the right to install and use mini-PV systems. This means that in future they will be able to install the systems themselves – without prior approval from the landlord or the owners' association. You can find out what the legal situation was before here.
The law still has to go through the Federal Council.
As early as May 2024, with the entry into force of Solar Package I, there were simplifications for the use of balcony power plants. These include:
A Solar Package II is also planned. This is primarily intended to regulate and facilitate the framework conditions for joint electricity generation and energy consumption. It is not yet known when the plans will be drawn up and discussed in the Bundestag.
