Households can now trade surplus solar power directly

People who generate electricity can now sell or give their surplus directly to other individuals, ORF reports, under a new law that took effect on October 1. The arrangements can be put into practice from Monday.

The system, known as peer-to-peer trading, allows people with photovoltaic panels to sell excess electricity without joining an energy community. Until now, energy communities were the only option, and about 120,000 consumers use them. If the producer and buyer are connected to the same substation, the network fee is waived.

Herbert Greisberger, head of Lower Austria’s Energy and Environment Agency, said electricity could be traded between neighbours, family members or other contractual partners without setting up an association or cooperative. The agency has launched an information campaign about the new arrangements.

Greisberger said the model would complement, rather than replace, energy communities. Producers may receive a higher price than they would from energy companies or ÖMAG, which buys surplus electricity, while buyers may still pay less than they would to large energy suppliers.

People can also share electricity between their own buildings. For example, a farm could transfer electricity between two buildings in different locations, provided the metering points are with the same network operator. Trading across different network areas is not expected to be possible until April 2027.

Lower Austria’s Energy and Environment Agency offers information on setting up an agreement. Its energy advice service can be reached by phone at 02742/22 144 or by email at [email protected]. A free webinar is scheduled for October 12 at 4:30 p.m.