Find out about electricity grid expansion projects, get involved and register for upcoming events

Are you interested in electricity grid expansion projects? Then you can obtain information and participate directly in various ways.

Projects for the construction of high-voltage lines that are designated as transnational or cross-border are subject to federal sectoral planning. The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) examines whether the realization of the project in a route corridor conflicts with public or private interests.

You have three opportunities to formally participate in the federal sectoral planning process:

• The first important opportunity is the public application conference. This is held by the Federal Network Agency after it has received the application for federal sectoral planning. The project sponsors prepare the application beforehand. At the conference, the Federal Network Agency collects information on the regional circumstances. Anyone who also has alternatives to the proposed corridors can present these at the application conference. The Federal Network Agency also accepts information on environmental and spatial compatibility. From this, it creates a homework booklet for the project developers, the so-called investigation framework.
• The next opportunity for participation is an official and public consultation. This takes place after the project developer has completed its investigations. The Federal Network Agency publishes information on the interpretation on its

• website
• and the local daily newspapers.

• You can submit comments as a private individual or association, but also as a public authority. Public interest bodies are, for example, municipal authorities.

• Once the Federal Network Agency has received and reviewed all comments, it organizes a hearing. This is the third and final opportunity to participate in the federal sectoral planning process. At this meeting, it discusses the comments submitted in good time with the project developer, the public interest bodies and those who submitted them. In contrast to the application conference, private individuals can only participate in this meeting if they have submitted a statement.

No documentation is required to submit comments. However, it may be helpful if you enclose appropriate maps or other documents. This makes the statement easier for the Federal Network Agency to understand.

- Forms: yes

- Online procedure possible: yes

- Written form required: yes

- Personal appearance required: no

Comments can be submitted by private individuals, associations or public bodies.

• No isolated contestability of the federal sectoral planning decision
• Review only in the context of an administrative court action against the approval decision for the respective expansion measure (Federal Administrative Court)

• As a first step, the Federal Network Agency holds a public application conference. It invites associations and public interest groups to attend. However, participation is generally open to all interested parties. After the application conference, the Federal Network Agency defines the scope of the investigation.
• This is followed by the official and public participation phase with the presentation and publication of the documents. Here, public bodies, private individuals and environmental associations have the opportunity to comment. A discussion meeting is then held with those entitled to participate.
• During the current participation phase, you can also participate directly online via the information and participation portal Netzausbau.de.

• Note (for further information on the deadline): Deadline for citizens and associations to submit comments: 1 month
• Deadline for public bodies: generally 8 weeks

No information can be provided on the average processing time.

Fee free of charge