Verfassungs- und europarechtliche Grundsatzfragen einer EEG-Reform

Electricity prices are rising. Politicians are under pressure to act and a thorough reform of the German Renewable Energies Act (Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz - EEG) is imminent. The privileges of renewable energy plant owners are to be restricted. Public debates on putting the brakes on electricity prices do not always differentiate between burdens on new renewable energy plants and existing plants already connected to the grid. The authors show that reducing the legal feed-in tariff for existing plants would be unconstitutional. They also show that the EEG is consistent with European state aid law and the free movement of goods.