Grid fees from 2027: how to lower your most expensive quarter hour with your wallbox
From 2027, Austria is restructuring its electricity grid fees: in future, it will no longer just be about how many kilowatt hours you consume, but also about your highest quarter hour of the month. If your electric car charges uncontrolled at 11 kW while someone is cooking at home, this creates exactly the peak that will cost money in future. The good news: with the right settings or dynamic load management, you control this value yourself. Here you can find out what changes when and how to lower your quarter-hour values.
Key points at a glance
- New from 2027: the grid usage fee consists of an energy charge (kWh) and a capacity charge (kW). The decisive factor is the highest 15-minute average of the month, measured by the smart meter. For most households, a transitional rule still applies in 2027 – the full effect comes from December 2027, at the latest from mid-2028.
- 10 kW is the magic limit: each kilowatt above it is subject to a separate, higher capacity charge – according to reports on the E-Control presentation, around twice as high. An electric car with 11 kW charging power exceeds this limit on its own.
- Simplest lever: limit the charging power to around 4 kW – this is also what E-Control recommends. Overnight, this is enough for most driving profiles.
- Most convenient lever: dynamic load management, e.g. with the go-e Controller and go-e Charger PRO, Zaptec Sense or an eBOX with a smart meter. The wallbox then always charges with as much power as is available below your limit.
- Save even more: with low-cost time windows (SNAP in summer, WiNAP in winter) and, from October 2027 at the latest, with flexible grid use – according to E-Control with a 75% discount on the capacity charge.
Contents
- What changes from 1 January 2027?
- How your most expensive quarter hour comes about
- Timeline: what applies when?
- Five levers to lower the peak
- go-e Charger PRO and go-e Controller
- Zaptec Go 2 and Zaptec Sense
- Compleo eBOX, Loxone and others
- Flexible grid use: 75% discount on the capacity charge
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
What changes from 1 January 2027?
The basis is E-Control's Systemnutzungsentgelte-Grundsatzverordnung (SNE-G-V), the ordinance on the principles of system usage fees, published in the Federal Law Gazette on 12 October 2026 (BGBl. II No. 299/2026). It implements the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG) and restructures grid fees more fundamentally than at any time in decades.
Until now, households on grid level 7 have paid their grid fee almost exclusively via the energy charge per kWh plus a flat fee. From 2027, the following applies to all grid customers:
- Energy charge for every kilowatt hour drawn – as before.
- Capacity charge for the highest average power drawn in a quarter hour in the calendar month. Billing is monthly.
- Two tiers on grid level 7: one price for power up to 10 kW and a separate, higher price for the share above that.
- At least 2 kW is billed every month on grid level 7 after the transition phase, even if your peak is lower.
According to E-Control, the capacity component starts at around 40% of grid costs and is to rise to 50% within three years. The specific amounts in cents will only be set by the tariff ordinance – which has not yet been published. So anyone who gives you an exact euro amount for 2027 today is working with assumptions.
Who pays more, who pays less?
The reform redistributes grid costs; the total volume is not meant to increase. E-Control has calculated example households – with unchanged behaviour, i.e. without anyone changing anything:
| Household | Change in grid costs |
|---|---|
| Small household, approx. 1,800 kWh/year | up to −31% |
| Average household, approx. 3,500 kWh/year | approx. −10% |
| Household with heat pump, approx. 8,700 kWh/year | approx. −12% |
| Household with electric car, uncontrolled at 11 kW | approx. +21% |
| Household with electric car and flexible grid use agreement | approx. −8.5% |
The table shows the core of the reform: it is not the electric car itself that becomes more expensive, but uncontrolled charging at full power. The reduction in the last row requires a flexible grid use agreement (more on this below). If you also limit the charging power, you lower the regular capacity charge too.
How your most expensive quarter hour comes about
Your smart meter already stores the average power for every quarter hour. In future, the highest of these values in the month will be billed – even if it occurs only once.
What matters is the average over 15 minutes. A kettle that runs for two minutes at 2 kW hardly counts. A wallbox that charges for an hour at 11 kW, on the other hand, counts in full: it fills every quarter hour with 11 kW. Add the cooker, oven or heat pump, and you quickly end up at 13 to 15 kW.
| Situation (example values) | Highest quarter hour | Above 10 kW? |
|---|---|---|
| Wallbox charges uncontrolled at 11 kW while cooking at the same time | approx. 13–15 kW | yes, clearly |
| Wallbox charges at 11 kW, little else running | approx. 11–12 kW | yes |
| Wallbox limited to 6 A three-phase (approx. 4.1 kW) | approx. 6–8 kW | no |
| Dynamic load management with a 9 kW limit at the house connection | max. 9 kW | no |
Important: measurement takes place at your metering point – i.e. the sum of all consumers running through this meter. The wallbox is usually the largest single consumer and therefore the most effective lever, but not the only one. Heat pumps, instantaneous water heaters or saunas count just as much. If the wallbox is connected to its own meter, this metering point is billed separately – the load management must then measure at exactly this meter.
Timeline: what applies when?
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| since 1 April 2026 | Summer low energy price (SNAP): lower energy charge from April to September, 10 am to 4 pm |
| 11 November 2026 | Grid operators report to E-Control whether they can implement the new billing on grid level 7 |
| 1 January 2027 | SNE-G-V comes into force, capacity charge for all grid customers |
| 1 January to 30 November 2027 | Transition phase: customers previously billed without power measurement pay a flat amount per metering point as the capacity charge; customers with power measurement pay a uniform price per kW, still without the 10 kW tier |
| 1 October 2027 | Winter low energy price (WiNAP) starts: October to March, 11 pm to 5 am. Grid operators must offer flexible grid use from this date at the latest |
| from December 2027 | Two-tier capacity charge with a limit at 10 kW – depending on the grid area, the start may be postponed until 30 June 2028 |
What does this mean for you? Almost all households are currently billed without power measurement – you can recognise this by the annual capacity flat fee of €54 on your grid bill. According to the text of the ordinance, a flat amount per metering point will initially continue to apply to you in 2027; your quarter-hour peak is only expected to become a cost factor from December 2027 – depending on the grid area, from July 2028 at the latest. Your grid operator will announce which date applies to your grid area.
Nevertheless, it is worth setting up your wallbox correctly now: the hardware is installed faster than a tariff changes, and SNAP and, from October 2027, WiNAP already bring savings on the energy charge before then.
Five levers to lower the peak
1. Limit the charging power
The simplest and free option: set a lower charging current in the app or web interface of your wallbox. E-Control itself recommends reducing the charging power from 11 to around 4 kW. This corresponds to 6 A three-phase (approx. 4.1 kW) or 16 A single-phase (approx. 3.7 kW). Over an eight-hour night, you recharge around 30 kWh this way – more than enough for most commuters.
Disadvantage: the limit always applies, even when nothing else is running in the house and more power would be possible.
2. Dynamic load management
A measuring device in the distribution board continuously measures how much power your entire house is currently drawing. You set an upper limit – for example 9 kW, so that a little reserve remains below the 10 kW limit. The wallbox then always charges with exactly the power that is available below this limit: at full power at night, automatically less while cooking. This is the most convenient solution, because you no longer have to think about it.
Limits of load management: it only controls the wallbox. If the cooker, heat pump and instantaneous water heater together already draw more than your limit, the wallbox can only throttle down to the minimum current (usually 6 A) or pause – the peak of the other devices remains. If you have several large consumers, you should control them via an energy management system as well.
3. Use time windows
Charge when the grid is lightly loaded. In summer, the energy charge drops between 10 am and 4 pm (SNAP); from October 2027, in winter between 11 pm and 5 am (WiNAP). A charging timer in the wallbox app is all you need. At night, hardly any other large consumers are running either – so the quarter-hour peak stays lower.
4. Charge with PV surplus
Electricity that goes directly from your own roof into the car is not drawn from the grid. It counts neither towards the energy charge nor towards the quarter-hour peak. With an energy manager, the wallbox automatically charges when the sun is shining.
5. Agree on flexible grid use
You allow your grid operator to restrict your power twice a day for two hours each time, and in return you receive a significant discount on the capacity charge. More on this below.
go-e Charger PRO and go-e Controller
The go-e Charger PRO comes with static load management straight from the factory: you set a maximum current that one or more go-e wallboxes share. So you do not need any additional hardware simply to limit the charging power (lever 1) – you set this in the go-e app.
It gets really smart with the go-e Controller. It sits in the distribution board, measures the current at the house connection and dynamically adjusts the charging power of all connected go-e Chargers. go-e itself calls the function peak load smoothing or peak shaving. The controller is compatible with all current go-e Chargers, i.e. PRO, Gemini and Gemini 2.0.
- Dynamic load management: set the limit in the go-e app – the controller throttles the wallbox as soon as other consumers come on and releases the power again when there is room.
- PV surplus charging with automatic switching between single-phase and three-phase charging. The controller measures directly on the line and therefore works with practically any inverter.
- Energy monitoring: you can see when peaks occur in the house – ideal for shifting other consumers too.
- Open interfaces: local HTTP API, Modbus TCP and MQTT for smart home systems.
Practical tip: allow for a reserve when setting the limit. On three phases, 10 kW corresponds to around 14.5 A per phase. If the limit is set per phase, around 13 A gives roughly 9 kW with an even load; with an uneven load, the total power remains below that. A stable Wi-Fi or LAN connection between controller and charger is also important – without it, the controller cannot adjust. It is best to have your electrician check the setting.
For company cars or billing to other users, the go-e Charger PRO is available as PRO Cable MID and as the PRO Cable ME, which is compliant with Austrian and German calibration law (Eichrecht).
Zaptec Go 2 and Zaptec Sense
With Zaptec, the Zaptec Sense takes care of dynamic load management. It is combined with an energy meter in the distribution board – in a bundle with a Carlo Gavazzi EM340 –, measures the building's consumption and continuously tells the wallbox how much power it may use.
- Zaptec Go 2 with Sense: dynamic load management for up to three Zaptec Go on the same connection, set up via the Zaptec app.
- Zaptec Pro: for multi-unit buildings, company car parks and commercial use; with the Zaptec APM, dynamic load management for any number of charging points.
- PV surplus charging and charging based on electricity price can be implemented, depending on the setup, via connected third-party energy managers.
If you are planning a Zaptec solution, for example for several parking spaces, write to us at onlinesales@ampion.at. As a company or property management, contact our team directly at shop.ampion.at.
Compleo eBOX, Loxone and others
- Compleo eBOX: with a Modbus TCP smart meter such as the Shelly Pro 3EM, the eBOX adjusts dynamically to household consumption and charges with PV surplus. Several eBOX professional units share the power among themselves. You can read how to set this up in the web interface in Setting up the Compleo eBOX without an app.
- Loxone and other energy managers: control not only the wallbox but also the heat pump, hot water tank or storage. This way you distribute the load throughout the house and keep the peak low even when several large consumers coincide.
- Any wallbox: you can limit the maximum charging current on practically any device – in the app, in the web interface or via the configuration by your electrician.
Which solution suits you?
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| One car, charges mainly at night, few other large consumers | limit charging power to approx. 4 kW, set a charging timer |
| One car, heat pump or electric cooker, irregular charging times | dynamic load management, e.g. go-e Charger PRO + go-e Controller or Zaptec Go 2 + Sense |
| PV system on the roof | energy manager with PV surplus charging – go-e Controller, eBOX with smart meter or Loxone |
| Two or more cars on the same connection | load management between the wallboxes plus measurement at the house connection |
Flexible grid use: 75% discount on the capacity charge
Flexible grid use replaces the previous interruptible tariffs. You commit to your grid operator to restrict your power draw – entirely or an agreed share of at least 4 kW – twice a day for two hours each time. A separate, lower capacity charge applies to this share; E-Control cites a 75% discount on the capacity charge. The exact amount will be set by the tariff ordinance.
- Time windows: on grid level 7, these are generally static, i.e. fixed. The grid operator may move them no more than twice a year and must announce this in advance. If it supports this technically, you can also request dynamic time windows that are announced by 6 am on the previous day.
- Prerequisite: you allow the grid operator to process your quarter-hour values for the contract.
- Minimum power: at least 4 kW must remain available to you even during the restriction, unless you make your entire power flexible.
- Term: generally ten years.
- Start: grid operators must conclude such agreements from 1 October 2027 at the latest – also at your request.
- Caution: if you nevertheless draw more power during a restricted window, an excess penalty may be due – unless the grid operator can technically restrict your consumption itself.
For the wallbox, this means it must be reliably throttled during these time windows – via a charging timer, an energy management system or control by the grid operator. With a wallbox capable of communication and dynamic load management, you are well prepared for this.
Conclusion
From 2027, grid fees will no longer depend only on how much electricity you consume, but also on how much you draw at the same time. This mainly affects households that charge their electric car uncontrolled at 11 kW. Fortunately, the solution is simple: if you limit the charging power to around 4 kW, you will usually stay safely below the 10 kW limit. If you want more convenience, opt for dynamic load management such as the go-e Controller with go-e Charger PRO, Zaptec Sense or an eBOX with a smart meter – then the car always charges with as much power as is available below your limit. If you also use low-cost time windows and conclude a flexible grid use agreement, according to E-Control's example calculations, you can even pay lower grid costs as an electric car household than today. And: for most households, the quarter-hour peak will only become really expensive from December 2027 – enough time to prepare calmly now.
Frequently asked questions
Does the capacity charge also apply if I have opted out of the smart meter?
Yes. The grid operator still determines the highest quarter-hour value of the month. However, without enabled quarter-hour values, you cannot use SNAP and WiNAP. You request activation from your grid operator, not from your electricity supplier.
My house connection is rated above 10 kW. Do I have to pay more now?
Not automatically. For connections that existed before 2027, the power taken into account is the highest of these three values: 10 kW, the power contractually agreed by the end of 2026, or the average of your two highest quarter-hour values from 2026. For the monthly capacity charge, however, what counts is what you actually draw as the highest quarter hour in the respective month. If you stay below 10 kW, the higher rate does not apply at all.
What happens if I am permanently above my agreed power?
In that case, the grid operator can adjust the grid access contract in accordance with its general grid terms and conditions and charge a one-off flat-rate portion of the grid connection fee for the additional power. This is another reason to cap peaks with load management.
My wallbox or heat pump is connected to an interruptible meter. What applies to me?
Connections that are interruptible at the end of 2026 will receive their own transitional tariffs until the end of 2029. From 1 January 2030, the regular grid fee applies to them. Flexible grid use is the successor to the interruptible tariffs – ask your grid operator whether switching makes sense for you.
Is an 11 kW wallbox with 4 kW charging power really enough?
For most people, yes. With around 4 kW, you charge about 30 kWh in eight hours – depending on the car, that is enough for around 150 to 200 km. With dynamic load management, you do not have to commit at all: the wallbox automatically uses full power when nothing else is running.
Is a 22 kW wallbox still worthwhile?
Rarely for a single-family home. Even 11 kW is above the 10 kW limit. You can read why 11 kW is the better choice for most households anyway in 11 kW or 22 kW wallbox – which is worthwhile?
Does my car charge on three phases at all at 4 kW?
6 A three-phase is the lowest current at which most cars charge on three phases – that is around 4.1 kW. Some vehicles only charge on a single phase, in which case it is around 3.7 kW at 16 A. We explain why some cars draw less power than the wallbox can deliver in this article.
How much will I actually save?
That depends on your grid operator's tariffs, which will only be fixed with the tariff ordinance. According to E-Control's example calculations, there is a difference of around 30 percentage points in grid costs between uncontrolled charging at 11 kW and an electric car household with a flexible grid use agreement.
Can I retrofit the go-e Controller to my existing go-e Charger?
Yes. The controller is installed in the distribution board and connected to your chargers in the go-e app. Installation in the distribution board is carried out by an electrician – on request, we can put you in touch with one from our partner network.
I am not sure which solution suits my house.
Send us a short message about which wallbox you have, which large consumers run in the house and whether you have a PV system to onlinesales@ampion.at – we will tell you how best to keep your quarter-hour peak under control.
Matching products
- go-e Controller – dynamic load management and PV surplus charging
- go-e Charger PRO Cable MID
- go-e Charger PRO Cable ME – compliant with Austrian and German calibration law (Eichrecht)
- go-e Charger Gemini 2.0 11 kW
- Compleo eBOX professional cable
Sources
- Systemnutzungsentgelte-Grundsatzverordnung (SNE-G-V), BGBl. II Nr. 299/2026 – RIS
- Systemnutzungsentgelte-Verordnung 2018, geltende Fassung (Leistungspauschale Netzebene 7)
- ORF: Neue Regeln für Strombezug (12. Oktober 2026)
- Salzburg24: Neue Stromnetztarife ab 2027 (zweistufiger Leistungspreis)
- i-Magazin: So baut die E-Control die Netzentgelte ab 2027 um
- energie-noe.at: Neue Netzentgelte ab 2027 – was die SNE-G-V für Haushalte bedeutet
- go-e: go-e Controller – technische Daten und Kompatibilität
- go-e: go-e Charger PRO
- pv magazine: Zaptec Go mit Zaptec Sense
As of: October 2026. The specific grid fees will be set by E-Control in the tariff ordinance; dates may shift depending on the grid area.
