Regional wholesale prices

On behalf of enercity AG

Publication date: 27.01.2026

The German wholesale electricity market is currently organized as a single price zone, meaning that electricity is traded at the same price everywhere, regardless of whether it can actually be transported due to grid bottlenecks. This “copper plate logic” means that grid bottlenecks must be corrected retrospectively through redispatch, the volume and costs of which have risen sharply in recent years and are now the main driver of rising grid fees. These challenges are exacerbated by the further expansion of renewable energies, increasing flexibility, and shorter-term market adjustments.
The study analyzes the problems of uniform electricity prices, shows how regional wholesale prices can better reflect grid congestion, and discusses the effects of such a reform on consumers, producers, and the futures market, as well as the necessary accompanying measures.

Here you can find the study.