Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution 2024 Comparisons

The following chapter featured in Alternative Energy and Power 2023 (the forerunner to Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution) and is awaiting update from the firm.

Austria is a federal state (Bund) and, as such, certain legislative competences are retained by the federal legislator. Others, however, are delegated to the nine states (Länder) – comprising Burgenland, Carinthia (Kärnten), Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), Salzburg, Styria (Steiermark), Tyrol (Tirol), Upper Austria (Oberösterreich), Vienna (Wien) and Vorarlberg.

The principal law governing the ownership and structure of the power industry is the federal state-level Electricity Management and Organisation Act (Elektrizitätswirtschafts-und-organisationsgesetz 2010, or ElWOG).

The ElWOG implements the EU’s third energy package (including rules on the unbundling of network operators), which is designed to liberalise the electricity markets of individual EU member states. The ElWOG sets out provisions on:

• the operation of electricity networks;
• the rights and obligations of network operators, specifically third-party network access;
• the unbundling of transmission system operators;
• the operation of transmission networks and the conditions for concessions to operate distribution networks; and
• the determination of system usage tariffs.

Although the ElWOG is a federal act, some of the ElWOG provisions provide only primary legislation and delegate authority to the state parliaments both to implement this and enact state-specific legislation regarding certain aspects of the electricity sector – for example, on the licensing and unbundling of distribution system operators or on the construction and operation of generation facilities). The main state-level acts are:

• the Burgenland Electricity Act (Burgenländisches Elek-trizitätswesengesetz 2006);
• the Carinthian Electricity Management and Organisation Act (Kärntner Elektrizitätswirtschafts-und-organisationsgesetz 2011);
• the Lower Austrian Electricity Act (Niederösterreichisches Elektrizitätswesengesetz 2005, or NÖ ElWG);
• the Salzburg State Electricity Act (Salzburger Landeselek-trizitätsgesetz 1999);
• the Styrian Electricity Management and Organisation Act (Steiermärkisches Elektrizitätswirtschafts-und-organisationsgesetz 2005);
• the Tyrolean Electricity Act (Tiroler Elektrizitätsgesetz 2012);
• the Upper Austrian Electricity Management and Organisation Act (Oberösterreichisches Elektrizitätswirtschafts-und-organisationsgesetz 2006);
• the Viennese Electricity Management Act (Wiener Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz 2005); and
• the Vorarlberg Electricity Management Act (Vorarlberger Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz 2014).

As there are certain state-specific variations, for reasons of simplicity, this chapter focuses on the state of Lower Austria in particular – seeing as it is one of the most populous states and one of the most relevant from an electricity infrastructure perspective. In Lower Austria, therefore, both the ElWOG and the NÖ ElWG apply.

The federal constitutional law that regulates ownership in Austrian electricity market companies (Bundesverfassungsgesetz, mit dem die Eigentumsverhältnisse an den Unternehmen der österreichischen Elektrizitätswirtschaft geregelt werden, or the “Constitutional Law on Ownership”) sets out the minimum level of state ownership required for listed energy companies. This adopts provisions from the second Electricity Market Nationalisation Law (Bundesgesetzes über die Verstaatlichung der Elektrizitätswirtschaft), which originated in 1947 as a basic law with non-constitutional status. As such, these nationalisation provisions are afforded constitutional status.

Annex 1 of the Constitutional Law on Ownership sets out that the following companies must be at least 51% owned by either the federal state or Austria’s biggest electricity provider, Verbund AG (which itself must be at least 51% state-owned):

• Österreichische Donaukraftwerke AG (Vienna);
• Österreichische Draukraftwerke AG (Klagenfurt);
• Osttiroler Kraftwerke GmbH (Innsbruck);
• Tauernkraftwerke AG (Salzburg); and
• Verbundkraft Elektrizitätswerke GmbH (Vienna).

Annex 2 of the Constitutional Law on Ownership sets out that the following companies must be at least 50% owned by either the federal state or Verbund AG:

• Donaukraftwerk Jochenstein AG (Passau);
• Die Ennskraftwerke AG (Steyr); and
• Die Österreichisch-Bayerische Kraftwerke AG (Simbach/Inn).

Annex 3 of the Constitutional Law on Ownership sets out that the following state companies (Landesgesellschaften) must be at least 51% owned by one of the nine relevant states or an entity that is at least 51% owned by one of the nine relevant states:

• Burgenländische Elektrizitätswirtschafts AG (Burgenland);
• Kärntner Elektrizitäts-Aktiengesellschaft (Carinthia);
• EVN Energieversorgung Niederösterreich AG (Lower Austria);
• Oberösterreichische Kraftwerke AG (Upper Austria);
• Salzburger Aktiengesellschaft für Energiewirtschaft (Salzburg);
• Steirische Wasserkraft- und Elektrizitäts-Aktiensgesellschaft (Styria);
• Tiroler Wasserkraftwerke AG (Tyrol);
• Vorarlberger Kraftwerke AG (Vorarlberg); and
• Wiener Stadtwerke Elektrizitätswerke Wienstrom (Vienna).

Generation

The main generation companies in Austria are Verbund AG (51% state-owned), EVN AG (51% owned by the state of Lower Austria) and Wien Energie GmbH (indirectly owned by the City of Vienna).

Transmission

The main transmission system operator in Austria is Austrian Power Grid AG (APG), which owns and is responsible for the transmission system across eight of the nine Austrian states. APG is a 100% subsidiary of Verbund AG; however, APG is functionally unbundled from Verbund as an independent transmission system operator (ITO). Key requirements for this unbundling are the complete separation of the personnel, IT and communication sectors, a ban on shared services, and the strict regulation of the management of the relationship between APG and Verbund AG.

The transmission system in the western-most state, Vorarlberg, is owned and operated by Vorarlberger Übertragungsnetz GmbH (VÜN) (which is indirectly owned by the state of Vorarlberg). However, VÜN and APG co-operate closely and, vis-à-vis foreign transmission system operators, APG represents VÜN and acts as a contact and co-operation partner on behalf of VÜN.

Distribution

The main distribution system operators in Austria are the provincial electricity companies – eg, Wiener Netze GmbH, Netz Niederösterreich GmbH, Netz Oberösterreich GmbH, Netz Burgenland GmbH, Salzburg Netz GmbH and Energienetze Steiermark GmbH. These are mostly directly or indirectly owned by the respective states.

Supply

There are about 150 suppliers in Austria. The main suppliers include Verbund AG (51% state-owned) and individual state companies that are constitutionally at least 51% owned by local authorities or companies in which local authorities hold at least 51% ownership (see 1.1 Law Governing the Structure and Ownership of the Power Industry).

Restrictions on the acquisition of certain shareholdings in Austrian companies, which are considered as being of general interest and in the interests of the defence goods industry, have been imposed by the Foreign Investment Screening Act (Investitionskontrollgesetz). The Foreign Investment Screening Act was passed in order to fulfil the requirements set out in the EU Foreign Investment Screening Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/452), which entered into force on 11 October 2020 and replaced the provisions of the Foreign Trade Act (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz 2011).

As the energy sector is deemed as being of general interest, any potential acquisitions that fall within the scope of the Foreign Investment Screening Act require the approval of the Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs (Bundesministerium für Digitalisierung und Wirtschaftsstandort).

Authorisation is required if a foreign direct investment is made by an individual who is not a citizen of an EU member state, an EEA state or Switzerland or by a company with its seat in a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland. Foreign direct investment according to the Foreign Investment Screening Act is defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of:

• an Austrian business as defined in Section 1(2) of the Austrian Commercial Code (Unternehmensgesetzbuch, or UGB), with its registered office or head office located in Austria and active in a sector listed in the Annex;
• voting shares in such a business (10%, 25% or 50%);
• a controlling influence over such a business; or
• essential assets of such an entity.

The acquisition of 10% or more of the voting rights in the target is only relevant in sensitive areas, such as operating critical energy infrastructure. The Foreign Investment Screening Act obliges not only the acquirer of a company but also the company itself to report changes in its ownership structure. However, authorisation is not required for foreign direct investments where the target is a micro-enterprise (including start-up companies) with fewer than ten employees and annual sales or an annual balance sheet total of less than EUR2 million.

Apart from those contained in the Foreign Investment Screening Act and the rules on unbundling of transmission and distribution system operators, there are no specific restrictions regarding the sale of power industry assets or businesses or with regard to other transactions such as amalgamations and mergers. In Austria, the Commercial Code (Unternehmensgesetzbuch, or UGB), the Civil Code (Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, or ABGB), the Limited Liability Company Act (Gesetz über Gesellschaften mit beschränkter Haftung, or GmbHG) and the Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz, or AktG) govern the establishment of companies, as well as the M&A process.

In addition, every business operating in Austria is bound by competition rules in the exercise of their economic activity. These arise directly from European Competition Law (Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, or TFEU) on the one hand and, on the other, from domestic legislation – in particular, the Cartel Act (Kartellgesetz 2005, or KartG) and the Competition Act (Wettbewerbsgesetz, or WettG). In order to prevent a concentrated market structure from leading to a reduction in competition, anticipatory control is provided for mergers based on their turnover. Mergers that exceed specified turnover thresholds must register with the relevant competition authority (either the EC in cases with EU relevance or the Federal Competition Authority for Austrian matters).

The regulatory authority for the electricity sector is Energie Control Austria (E-Control), established by the Energy Control Act (Energie-Control-Gesetz 2010). E-Control is a public law institution with its own legal personality and is an independent regulatory authority in line with EU law requirements on the independence of member states’ regulatory bodies.

According to Section 4 of the Energy Control Act, the main goals of E-Control are:

• the promotion of a competitive, secure and environmentally sustainable internal market in electricity and natural gas;
• the effective opening up of the market to all EU customers and suppliers;
• to ensure the conditions are right for the effective and reliable operation of electricity and gas networks, taking into account the long-term objectives;
• the development of competitive and functioning regional markets in the EU;
• to lift existing restrictions on electricity and gas trade between EU member states;
• to ensure that network operators and network users have appropriate incentives (both short- and long-term) to increase network efficiency and promote market integration;
• to implement measures that ensure customers benefit from the efficient functioning of the national market, promote effective competition and contribute to consumer protection; and
• to ensure the integrity and transparency of the wholesale energy market.

E-Control’s main functions and powers are the following:

• regulatory supervision of the Austrian electricity market and co-operation with the competition authorities on competition law matters;
• implementation of the Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators (ACER)’s binding decisions;
• decisions on investments according to Regulation (EU) 347/2013 (TEN-E-Regulation);
• operation of the registry for guarantees of origin (Herkunftsnachweisdatenbank);
• development and publication of market rules and technical rules in cooperation with market participants;
• decisions on the right to third-party grid access;
• approval of the network operators’ general terms and conditions;
• determination and approval of network tariffs;
• certification of transmission system operators (ie, approval of compliance with unbundling);
• dispute resolution competence in certain cases provided by law; and
• competence to enact various ordinances.

On a political level, the central planning authority in charge of matters related to the power industry is the Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (the “Minister for Climate Action”), Leonore Gewessler from the Green Party. The Minister for Climate Action is in charge of the political agenda in the electricity sector (which is closely linked to the agenda on climate action and the promotion of renewables) and of making legislative proposals. Additionally, the Minister for Climate Action also has certain competencies at an execution level, including:

• the designation of a transmission system operator following the completion of unbundling certification by E-Control;
• the decision on the implementation of the smart-meter roll-out; and
• the adoption of a supply chain security strategy in co-operation with E-Control.

During the past year (2022–23), the power industry has seen the following material changes in law and regulation.

• In April 2022, the National Emission Certificate Trading Act (Nationales Emissionszertifikatehandelsgesetz 2022, or NEHG) was enacted which introduced a CO₂ tax in Austria by implementing a national Emissions Trading System for sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (eg, traffic and buildings). The National Emission Certificate Trading Act will induce an environmental incentive effect and increase the appeal of using innovative low-emission technologies, thereby making a decisive contribution to achieving climate-related goals.
• In March 2023, the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfungsgesetz 2000, or UVP-G 2000) was amended to simplify and speed up approval procedures for the construction of power plants and grid infrastructure that require an environmental impact assessment, with the aim of accelerating the expansion of renewable energy projects.
• In June 2023, the Federal Energy Efficiency Act (Bundes-Energieeffizienzgesetz) was amended to finally transpose Directive (EU) 2018/2002 on energy efficiency.
• Also in June 2023, the Electricity Costs Settlement Act (Strompreiskosten-Ausgleichsgesetz 2022, or SAG 2022) was adopted. This will allow subsidies to be granted for a limited period of time to market participants subject to the EU Emissions Trading System in order to compensate for the rise in electricity costs.

The most fundamental change during the past five years has been the implementation of the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package. In June 2019, the EU co-legislator passed the final acts of the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package. This is designed to make an important contribution to the EU’s long-term strategy of achieving carbon neutrality (net-zero emissions) by 2050.

The Clean Energy for All Europeans Package has been implemented into federal law by the Renewable Expansion Legislative Package adopted in July 2021. This package comprises the Renewable Expansion Act (Erneuerbaren Ausbau Gesetz, or EAG), which replaces the Green Electricity Act 2012 (Ökostromgesetz 2012, or ÖSG) and implements a new support scheme for renewable energy, as well as amendments to several federal laws. As far as the implementation of parts of the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package falls into the competence of the states, the states have passed the relevant legislative amendments.

The relevant EU acts (and their implementing Austrian legislative acts) are:

• Directive (EU) 2018/844 amending Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings, which was transposed into state law such as the Lower Austrian building code (NÖ Bauordnung 2014) and the Lower Austrian building technology order (NÖ Bautechnikverordnung 2014, or NÖ BO);
• Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (“RED II”), which was primarily transposed by the EAG as well as by amendments to the ElWOG;
• Directive (EU) 2018/2002, which amended Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency and was recently transposed by amendment to the Federal Energy Efficiency Act (Bundes-Energieeffizienzgesetz) – Directive 2012/27/EU had been transposed by amendment of several federal and state laws, primarily the Federal Energy Efficiency Act and the Heating and Cooling Costs Compensation Act (Heiz- und Kältekostenabrechnungsgesetz);
• Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, which was implemented by the amendment of ElWOG and the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for Austria 2021–30;
• Regulation (EU) 2019/943 on the internal market for electricity, which was implemented by some minor amendments to ElWOG;       
• Directive (EU) 2019/944 on common rules for the internal market for electricity, which was transposed into ElWOG and the states’ Electricity Acts;
• Regulation (EU) 2019/941 on risk-preparedness in the electricity sector, which was implemented by the Energy Emergency Powers Act (Energielenkungsgesetz 2012);
• Regulation (EU) 2019/942 establishing an EU agency for the co-operation of energy regulators, which has not been specifically implemented.

Austria has generally been progressive when it comes to promoting the development of renewable energy generation, the use of biofuels, and e-mobility. Thanks to its hydropower, Austria has one of the highest renewable percentages in the gross final consumption of energy within the EU.

The current Austrian government is composed of a coalition between the conservative Austrian People’s Party (Österreichische Volkspartei) and the Green Party (Die Grünen), which was sworn in on 7 January 2020. The government, currently led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer from the Austrian People’s Party, has focused on tackling climate change.

A new policy agenda (Regierungsprogramm 2020–24) was presented on 2 January 2020, which has committed Austria to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and source 100% of Austria’s total national electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030, with plans for photovoltaic (PV) generation capacity to hit 11 TWh by that year. This policy includes the aim of installing solar panels on one million Austrian homes. The adoption of the Renewable Expansion Act (Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz, or EAG) in July 2021 is considered one of the milestones in the implementation of the new policy agenda.

In January 2023, the Austrian government presented – together with the by now adopted amendment on the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (see 1.6 Changes in Law or Regulation) – a proposal for a Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act (Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Beschleunigungsgesetz, or EABG), which aims to simplify and speed up approval procedures for the construction of power plants and grid infrastructure below the thresholds for mandatory environmental impact assessments.

In 2022, against the backdrop of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February of that year, both Austria and the EU began to develop policy programmes for the phase-out of natural gas imports from Russia. In May 2022, the EC presented the REPowerEU Plan, which proposed several measures in order to end EU dependency on Russian gas and tackle climate change at the same time. Prior to that, in April 2022, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action commissioned an analysis by the Austrian Energy Agency that set out the possibility of ending Austrian dependence on Russian gas imports by 2027. In June 2022, the Minister for Climate Action presented the new Austrian Hydrogen Strategy, which will enhance the production as well as the use of hydrogen – hydrogen being one of the possible substitutes for (Russian) natural gas. In February 2023, the draft of the Federal Act on the Introduction of a Supplier Obligation for Gas from Renewable Sources (Erneuerbare-Gas-Gesetz, or EGG) was published. The draft EGG provides for an obligation on gas suppliers to replace a certain share of the gas volumes they sell with renewable gases (including hydrogen produced from renewables-sourced electricity). If gas suppliers do not comply with this obligation, they will face penalties. The draft EGG is currently under debate.

Currently, more than 80% of electricity generated in Austria originates from renewable sources. Due to its topographic location, water (both run-of-the-river and pumped storage) and wind are the two main renewable energy sources in Austria.

Historically, Austria has never directly relied on nuclear power. In 1978, shortly after the completion of construction of the first Austrian nuclear power plant in Zwentendorf an der Donau in Lower Austria, a referendum initiated by then-Chancellor Bruno Kreisky on the use of nuclear power was held. This was the first national referendum in the Austrian Second Republic. With an outcome of 50.5% against the use of nuclear power, the Zwentendorf power plant never became operational. The prohibition of nuclear power generation in Austria was subsequently enacted into law in 1978 and, as of 1999, this prohibition was given constitutional status.

Nevertheless, there are a number of nuclear power plants located close to Austria’s borders – for example, Temelín in the Czech Republic, which is 60 km from the border. As such, despite its anti-nuclear standpoint, Austria does consume electricity from nuclear power through the import of electricity from other EU member states.

From the 1990s until 1 October 2018, Austria and Germany shared a single electricity market with a common price zone, whereby electricity was traded freely between the two countries. In an effort to ease grid congestion caused by poor interconnectedness between the two countries, as of 1 October 2018, an upper limit of 4,900 MW was placed on the amount of electricity that could be traded between Austria and Germany. This, however, prevented the physical delivery of power being traded and caused surges of electricity destined for Bavaria and Austria through neighbouring countries such as the Czech Republic and Poland. A complaint was lodged with ACER, which – in its binding decision in 2016 – decided that the common price zone be split.

Given that Austria depends on electricity imports from Germany, Austrian wholesale electricity prices have increased as a result of this decision. Germany is currently promoting the development of further north–south electricity interconnectors that should alleviate the grid congestion. The construction of the “SuedOst-Link”, which began in March 2023, is considered a milestone in this endeavour; first deliveries from the north to the south of Germany and further onwards to Austria are expected as of 2027. In 2023, despite traditionally high dependence on electricity imports, exports exceeded imports contractually for the first time in two years.

Austria’s electricity market is based on a balancing group model, whereby suppliers and customers are consolidated into a number of virtual groups in which the supply and demand are balanced. Each market participant is obliged to be a member of a balancing group.

Each market participant therefore delivers or removes energy from its respective balance group, so that the compensation for generation and demand fluctuates for each individual group. Each group is also obliged to balance energy consumption and generation. If unforeseen fluctuations in production or demand occur, the energy balance in the grid must be regulated by switching generating units on the grid on or off. The cost of these compensatory measures is offset against the balance group that caused the respective deviation. The deviations and the offsetting are calculated by an independent balance group co-ordinator (APCS Power Clearing and Settlement AG).

Wholesale trading is mainly conducted through bilateral OTC contracts between suppliers and producers. However, trading also occurs via the Austrian power exchange EXAA.

Imports and exports of electricity to and from other jurisdictions are permitted. Austria is highly dependent on the importation of electricity.

As part of the EU, the Austrian electricity market is subject to EU laws on the internal energy market that enforce the principle of free movement of electricity across the EU. In addition to Directive (EU) 2019/944 on common rules for the internal market for electricity (as implemented in the ElWOG and state laws) and Regulation (EU) 2019/943 on the internal market for electricity, subsidiary network codes include:

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222, establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management;
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1447, establishing a network code on the requirements for grid connection of a high-voltage direct current system and direct current-connected power park modules;
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1719, establishing a guideline on forward capacity allocation;
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1485, which establishes a guideline on electricity transmission system operation and sets out the regulatory framework for electricity imports, exports and co-operation between Austrian transmission system operators and those of neighbouring countries;
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195, establishing a guideline on electricity balancing; and
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2196, establishing a network code on emergency and restoration.

For details of the splitting of the bidding zone between Austria and Germany in 2018 and its consequences for German-Austrian electricity trade, please see 1.8 Unique Aspects of the Power Industry.

The Austrian supply mix of electricity (gross electricity production) in 2021 was as follows:

• hydro – 61%;
• natural gas – 15%;
• wind – 10%;
• biofuel – 6%;
• solar – 3%;
• coal – 3%;
• other fuels – 1%; and
• oil – 1%.

Subject to the legislative acts detailed in 1.4 Law Governing the Sale of Power Industry Assets, there are no concentration limits in Austria.

In accordance with the Competition Act, the Federal Competition Authority (Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde) is responsible for ensuring effective competition and for responding to distortions or restrictions of competition within the meaning of the Cartel Act – or, in individual cases, European competition rules – and for ensuring compatibility with EU law.

The Federal Competition Authority must work towards compatibility with E-Control’s decisions as regulator when applying antitrust law and is empowered to provide E-Control with the information required for the performance of its duties in accordance with the principles of data protection. The Federal Competition Authority may also ask E-Control to:

• provide information and opinions; and
• bring all the information to the attention of the parties and provide any documentation that they need for this purpose.

Without prejudice to the competence of the Federal Competition Authority, E-Control is entitled to provisionally prohibit the performance of the relevant activity by the party under investigation for the duration of the proceedings.

The Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT) sets out the monitoring of wholesale energy trading in Europe and prohibits insider trading and market manipulation. E-Control is responsible for collecting data from Austrian market participants and for national monitoring compliance with REMIT.

The principal laws governing the construction and operation of generation facilities are:

• the ElWOG and delegated state electricity laws such as the NÖ ElWG, which governs general aspects of the power industry, including the granting of permits for the construction and operation of power stations;
• for plants that do not require a permit pursuant to the NÖ ElWG (eg, solar plants <1 MW), the regional planning acts and building regulations of the respective state – for example, the Lower Austrian Regional Planning Act (Nierderösterreichisches Raumordnungsgesetz, or NÖ ROG) and the NÖ BO;
• the aforementioned Environmental Impact Assessment Act (see 1.6 Recent Changes in Law or Regulation), which governs the process for obtaining a federal environmental impact authorisation granted by the respective state government (subject to certain thresholds);
• the Water Act (Wasserrechtsgesetz 1959, or WRG), which is applicable when using water for energy production, or when using groundwater, or when groundwater balance is affected;
• the Forestry Act (Forstgesetz 1975), which is applicable if wooded areas are to be cleared for construction;
• the Waste Management Act (Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz 2002, or AWG), which governs an approval requirement for certain waste; and
• the relevant nature conservation legislation for the relevant federal state – eg, the Lower Austria Nature Protection Act (Niederösterreichisches Naturschutzgesetz 2000), which is applicable in specially protected areas (usually all areas outside the local area).

It needs to be checked on a case-by-case basis which laws apply to a specific project and, consequently, which permits will be required.

The regulatory process and the factors that are taken into account in the decision to approve a generation project differ according to the type of generation facility, the impact on the environment, and also the state in which authorisation is to be obtained.

The NÖ ElWG provides for two procedures:

• a simplified procedure for power generation plants intended solely for emergency power supply or with a maximum capacity of 500 kW; and
• a regular procedure.

Under the simplified procedure, provided the application is complete, details of the project will be made public by posting a notice at the local community council and by submitting the project documentation to the municipality during a specified period. During this period, qualified neighbours can submit justified objections. The authority investigates by obtaining expert opinions and determining whether the conditions allow for approval. If necessary, approval is issued by a formal decision. Specific orders relating to the construction and operation of the plant may be issued.

For a regular procedure, a formal oral hearing is scheduled after the application has been deemed complete. The subject matter, time and place of the hearing are announced on the official noticeboards of the local community council and, where appropriate, the neighbouring municipalities. Qualifying neighbouring landowners near the site of the prospective power generation plant are personally informed. The authority makes its investigations by obtaining expert opinions in order to determine whether the conditions allow for approval. If necessary, the approval is issued by a formal decision. Specific orders relating to the construction and operation of the plant may be issued.

Annex 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act lists 89 types of projects deemed to have significant environmental impact, for which an environmental impact assessment is required. Regarding energy generation, this applies to a number of projects, including hydropower plants, thermal power plants with a minimum fuel heat output of 200 MW, or overhead power lines with a rated voltage of at least 220 kV and a length of at least 15 km.

Pursuant to Annex 1, certain projects – such as wind turbines with a total electrical output of at least 30 MW – are subject to a simplified assessment procedure. A third class of projects is subject to the fulfilment of specific conditions, including an investigation conducted on a case-by-case basis. Where required, the project may be subject to a simplified assessment procedure.

If the project requires an environmental impact assessment, the applicant must – in addition to the foregoing – submit an environmental impact statement with the application. It must describe the project, the main alternatives reviewed, the environmental impact of the project, and the measures designed to prevent or mitigate the impact. The public, including environmental organisations and citizen initiatives, is greatly involved in this procedure. The assessment of the potential impact on the environment will be carried out by experts from a wide variety of disciplines, as appointed by the authority. These experts will be required to jointly prepare a comprehensive environmental impact report.

Generation plants must be constructed, modified and operated in a manner that conforms with a variety of protection regulations, such as water protection regulations. State-of-the-art technology must be used to construct and operate the plant, as well as to store equipment or other materials. This is to ensure that the life or health of the plant operator, its staff and neighbours, the state of the neighbouring properties, and other property rights are not endangered. Furthermore, neighbours must be protected against unreasonable levels of noise, smell, dust, fumes, vibrations and the absence of light (the latter being most relevant in the case of wind turbines). The plant must be constructed and operated in an energy-efficient manner and in accordance with the relevant zoning plans.

The implementation of the electricity acts of individual states (eg, the NÖ ElWG) permits the expropriation of land under certain conditions.

In Lower Austria, the NÖ ElWG provides that the public authority must – upon application – impose necessary restrictions on rights with regard to the land or other property rights in rem. This includes the expropriation of property for reasonable compensation if:

• the construction of a power plant is in the public interest;
• the construction of a production facility is required for technical or economic reasons; and
• the project developer and the landowner or party with affected property rights are not able to reach an agreement and no other legal remedy under the NÖ ElWG, apart from expropriation, is available.

Expropriation may include:

• granting an easement over the affected land;
• the assignment of ownership rights over the land; or
• the assignment, restriction or cancellation of other land rights or other rights linked to a specific property.

The construction and decommissioning of generating stations is delegated to the individual states. In Lower Austria, the NÖ ElWG sets out that the operator must take all necessary precautions to avoid danger or disturbance to the life or health of the generating station and its neighbours or to the property of its neighbours when decommissioning the generating station. Furthermore, the operator must take precautions to protect the townscape.

Prior to decommissioning, the operator must notify the local authority and submit planned decommissioning procedures for the authority’s approval. If the procedures are deemed insufficient or if the operator has not taken necessary precautions, the authority must provide these.

The decommissioning of a power plant is additionally provided for as a safety measure. In Lower Austria, for example, the NÖ ElWG provides that the authority may require the decommissioning of a power plant – either in full or in part – in order to to stop unreasonable disturbance to qualifying neighbours or in the event that the power plant causes:

• danger to the life or health of people; or
• damage to property or harm to the other property rights of qualifying neighbours.

Should the authority have reason to believe that such emergency measures are immediately necessary, it may take such action without undertaking a full administrative procedure following agreement with the generating facility operator.

The principal laws that govern the construction and operation of transmission lines and associated facilities are:

• the EIWOG and the relevant acts of the states (eg, NÖ ElWG);
• the Federal Electric Power Lines Act (Starkstromwegegesetz 1968), which is only applicable for power lines that extend to two or more states, and the states’ Electric Power Lines Acts (eg, the Lower Austrian Power Lines Act (NÖ Starkstromwegegesetz)), which are applicable to power lines located within the respective state; and
• the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, although this is applicable only to overhead power lines with a rated voltage of at least 220 kV and a length of at least 15 km.

Depending on the location of the power line, several permits under one or more of the following regulations may be required (non-exhaustive list):

• the relevant nature conservation legislation for the relevant federal state – for example, the Lower Austria Nature Protection Act;
• the Forestry Act;
• the Water Act;
• the regional planning acts and building regulations of the respective state, such as NÖ ROG and NÖ BO; and/or
• the Federal Roads Act (Bundesstraßengesetz 1971, or BStG).

The construction and operation of transmission lines requires a construction and operating licence under the Electric Power Lines Act of the applicable state or, where the power line extends to two or more states, under the Federal Electric Power Lines Act.

Authorisation of transmission line construction is an administrative act that requires an application to the relevant authority (ie, the state government or the Minister for Climate Action) containing details of the planned route. Approval for the construction of a transmission line is conditional on its being in the public interest to supply the population with electrical energy. It must connect with other existing or approved energy supply facilities, and must conform with land culture, forestry, spatial planning, nature and monument protection requirements, water management and water law, public transport (as well as other public supply infrastructure), national defence, airspace security and employee protection requirements. The authorities appointed to safeguard such interests and the relevant public bodies have the right to make submissions in the preliminary proceedings in so far as they are affected by the transmission line project.

Depending on the location of the transmission line, it might also fall under the scope of one or more administrative acts – for example, the Water Act, the Forestry Act or the Federal Roads Act – and thereby require a relevant permit. Please refer to the non-exhaustive list of potentially relevant regulation in 4.1 Regulation of Construction and Operation of Transmission Lines and Associated Facilities for further examples.

For transmission lines with a rated voltage of at least 220 kV and a length of at least 15 km, as well as transmission lines in protected areas with a rated voltage of at least 110 kV and a length of at least 20 km, an environmental impact assessment according to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act is required. Please refer to 3.1 The Construction and Operation of Generation Facilities for further details.

The operation of transmission systems in Austria requires authorisation from E-Control. This requires the fulfilment of conditions set out in the ElWOG, which include:

• the mandatory unbundling of entities involved in the activities of generation and supply;
• conditions of usage;
• non-discriminatory pricing; and
• and compliance with provisions ensuring third-party access to transmission infrastructure.

However, there is an unlimited statutory area monopoly for transmission services (see 4.5 Monopoly Rights to Provide Transmission Services). This means that new market participants may not obtain a construction and operation licence for transmission lines.

Furthermore, each year the transmission system operators must submit a ten-year network development plan for the transmission system to the regulatory authority, based on the current situation and supply-and-demand forecasts. The specific purpose of the network development plan is to:

• provide market participants with information on which key transmission infrastructures need to be built or developed during the next decade;
• list all investments that have already been decided;
• identify new investments to be made over the next three years; and
• set a timetable for all investment projects.

The terms and conditions imposed on approvals for the construction of transmission facilities are provided in the ElWOG in conjunction with the states’ Electricity Acts. This sets out that the transmission system operator is committed to meeting the criteria in Section 40 of the ElWOG, which are extensive and include requirements to:

• operate and maintain the system safely, reliably, efficiently and with due regard to environmental protection;
• ensure the technical conditions required to operate the system;
• ensure the capacity of the network to meet a reasonable demand for transmission of electricity in the long term;
• operate, maintain and develop, under economic conditions and with due respect for the environment, secure, reliable and efficient transmission networks;
• ensure appropriate transmission capacity and reliability of the network to contribute to security of supply; and
• refrain from any discrimination against network users or categories of network users, in particular for the benefit of its affiliates.

These conditions are in addition to the EU network codes relevant to transmission, as listed in 2.2 Electricity Imports and Exports.

Expropriation for the construction of a transmission line is essentially governed the same way as expropriation regarding the construction of a production facility. As regards the latter, please see 3.4 Eminent Domain, Condemnation or Expropriation Rights.

Under certain circumstances, an expropriation may be carried out if the construction of a transmission line is deemed to be in the public interest. The Lower Austria Power Lines Act, for example, sets out that – where relocation would be at a disproportionate cost – the authority may impose the expropriation for transmission lines, including accessories such as substations, transformers and switchgear if there are compelling technical reasons for a specific routing in Lower Austria.

Expropriation may include:

• the granting of immovable property;
• the assignment of land rights; or
• the assignment, restriction or cancellation of other real rights in immovable property and rights (the exercise of which is linked to a specific place).

The quantum of the compensation is determined on the basis of the estimate of at least one sworn and judicially certified expert in the expropriation decision or in a separate decision. In the latter case, a provisional guarantee amount is to be determined without further enquiries in the expropriation decision.

In Austria, property rights are constitutionally protected, which means that expropriation is only permissible for the public good and in line with the proportionality principle.

The ElWOG sets out an area monopoly for transmission services in Austria with three regional areas. The Vorarlberg area is legally covered by Vorarlberger Übertragungsnetz GmbH, whereas the rest of Austria’s nine states are covered by the Austrian Power Grid (APG) AG. Since 2011, APG has taken over operation of the Tyrolean transmission lines and, since 2012, Vorarlberger Übertragungsnetz GmbH has been co-operating with APG. As such, APG is the Austrian-wide control area manager.

The provision of transmission services is primarily governed by the ElWOG, whereby E-Control as regulator must determine the system usage charge (“tariff”) according to the System Usage Charges Ordinance (Systemnutzungsentgelte-Verordnung).

The ElWOG requires the terms of service of transmission system operators to be approved by the regulator E-Control.

In line with Directive (EU) 2019/944 on common rules for the internal market for electricity, the ElWOG sets out the principles of non-discriminatory terms and tariffs for access and usage of the transmission network and of setting pre-approved tariffs. All network users connected to the transmission network are charged a fixed tariff for the transmission of electricity, set by E-Control, dependent on the voltage level.

The tariff, called system usage charges (Systemnutzungsentgelte), is annually fixed by E-Control in the System Usage Charges Ordinance on the basis of the costs of the network operators.

Pursuant to the ElWOG, system usage charges consist of the following components:

• network usage charge;
• network loss charge;
• network access charge;
• network provision charge;
• system service charge;
• charges for metering services and other services; and
• charges for international transactions and for contracts for the transport of energy (where applicable).

In total, the system usage charges cover the costs incurred by a network operator for the construction, operation and maintenance of the network. The costs incurred by the transmission system operator are determined annually in an administrative proceeding before E-Control. The transmission system operator has a right to appeal E-Control’s decision. On the contrary, the System Usage Charges Ordinance can only be contested before the Constitutional Court. Such an appeal must meet very high requirements, which makes successfully contesting the tariffs fixed in the System Usage Charges Ordinance highly improbable in practice.

Transmission system operators must apply for approval of their terms of service with E-Control. Once approved, E-Control publishes the terms of service on its website. If E-Control does not approve the terms of service, the transmission system operator may lodge an appeal.

The ElWOG implements Directive (EU) 2019/944 on common rules for the internal market for electricity, which sets out the principle of non-discriminatory third-party access to transmission networks. Under the ElWOG, transmission system operators are obliged to grant network access to those entitled to network access according to the approved general conditions, subject to certain system user charges.

A network operator may only refuse network access – in whole or in part – in the case of exceptional network conditions or in the case of a lack of network capacity.

Relevant legislation includes:

• the ElWOG and effective state acts (eg, NÖ ElWG);
• the Electric Power Lines Act 1968, which is only applicable for distribution lines that extend to two or more federal states; and
• state acts such as the Lower Austria Power Lines Act.

The operation of a distribution network requires an electricity concession, which may be granted only if the concessionaire is able to ensure cost-effective, sufficient and secure distribution and comply with regulatory obligations for the operation of electricity distribution, and provided that no concession has already been granted to operate a distribution network for the specified area.

The granting of the electricity concession also requires that the concessionaire (if this is an individual) should be self-employed, have reached the age of 24, have Austrian citizenship or be a citizen of another EU member state or EEA contracting state, have their principal place of residence in Austria or another EU member state or EEA contracting state, and should not be excluded from the exercise of the concession. If the concessionaire is a legal entity or a registered partnership, it should have its seat in Austria or another EU member state or EEA contracting state and have appointed a manager or tenant for the exercise of the concession. In this case, the competent authority is the federal government.

Regarding the construction of distribution lines, the relevant legislation and processes are the same as for the construction of transmission lines. Please refer to 4.2 Obtaining Approvals for the Construction and Operation of Transmission Lines and Associated Facilities for further details.

The terms and conditions for the construction and operation of distribution networks are set out in the individual implementation acts of the states. In Lower Austria, for example, the Lower Austria Power Lines Act provides that network operators are obliged to:

• grant network access to third parties in a non-discriminatory manner, subject to approved general network conditions and tariffs;
• operate and maintain the network in a safe, reliable and efficient way, taking into account environmental protection and providing all essential services;
• expand the network they operate – in line with their needs – in order to ensure the long-term ability of the distribution network to meet the foreseeable demand for distribution; and
• ensure the necessary technical conditions for the operation of the network are met.

Expropriation in the scenario of distribution networks is similar to that for transmission systems, as detailed in 4.4 Eminent Domain, Condemnation or Expropriation Rights.

As with transmission systems, various area monopolies are set out across Austria. Lists of relevant areas are specified by the individual state laws – for example, the NÖ ElWG provides that a concession may only be granted if another concession has not already been granted for that particular area. Given these geographical restrictions, end users cannot select a specific distribution system operation.

As for transmission systems, the provision of distribution services is primarily governed by the ElWOG, whereby E-Control as regulator fixes the distribution charges (“tariff”) in the System Usage Charges Ordinance. The terms of service of distribution system operators must be approved by E-Control.

Pursuant to the ElWOG, distribution charges are fixed by E-Control on the basis of the costs incurred by the distribution system operators for the construction, operation and maintenance of the network. Network users connected to the distribution network are charged the fixed tariff for the distribution of electricity dependent on the voltage level. For further details, please refer to 4.6 Transmission Charges and Terms of Service. Just like transmission system operators, distribution system operators must offer their services on the basis of general terms of service, which need to be approved by E-Control.