The German power grid is subdivided into four main and three intermediate voltage levels. While the extra-high voltage system (or supergrid) and the high-voltage system (or primary network) are owned by the transmission network operators, the medium-voltage system (or primary distribution network) and the low-voltage system (or secondary distribution network) are held by the distribution network operators.
The ultimate consumers, who secure their electricity from the public power grids, have to pay for the provision and use of those networks – a charge called the grid-use fee – in form of a...