General framework

Procedure for defining traction current grid access

The procedure for the further development of business processes for access to the traction current grid, which was initiated by BNetzA in 2019, is approaching completion. In April 2021, BNetzA submitted a revised document on future automated business processes for public consultation. The procedure for defining should improve transparency and enforceability of the access rules, data formats and communication deadlines for all market partners (electricity suppliers, TOCs, vehicle owners and DB Netze Energy). BNetzA intends for this to increase the sense of responsibility of the owners of the railway vehicles. In order to supply traction current grid operators with obligatory usage data promptly, this information will be provided by the owners of the vehicles in future. This would improve the quality and speed of access processes all the way through to billing. DB Netze Energy welcomes this development. The business processes defined by the respective authority are expected to be adopted this year. An appropriate transitional period will then need to be defined for the development of the required IT systems by all the market partners involved.