!!!Elektrizitätswirtschaft
Electric Power Industry: The beginnings of the Austrian electricity
industry date back to 1873, when a direct current generator supplied
the Krupp factory in Berndorf (Lower Austria) with electric energy for
the first time; in 1878 the first arc lamps lighted the rink of the
Vienna Ice Skating Club, in 1883 the Suedbahngesellschaft railway
company started the first 120-kW generator in Moedling, and the first
public electricity supply company started supplying the town of
Scheibbs (Lower Austria) in 1886. These pioneering achievements were
followed by the rapid development of local power stations. In 1914
there were 350 power plants in present Austrian territory (in line
with natural conditions, steam power plants in the eastern part of the
country and hydroelectric power plants in the West and South). In
1959, there were more than 2,050 plants generating more than
10 kW each and owned by about 1,100 companies; about 500 of these
companies operating 1,000 plants with a capacity of 200 kW and
over, supplied 99% of total electric energy. During World War I the
country was faced with difficulties in supplying coal, which promoted
the systematic development of water power, which was plentiful in
Austria. After Austria lost its coal-fields in 1918, the construction
of hydroelectric power-plants had to be promoted even faster. Between
1918 and 1933 the total output of the hydraulic generation plants
increased from 240 MW to 725 MW. Between 1920 and 1930 the
first 110 kV power lines linked Styria and Upper Austria with Vienna.
The power plants built between 1938 and 1945 were mainly designed to
serve the south-north connection with Germany; however, most of them
were destroyed during World War II.
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Until Austria's accession to the EU, the organisation of electricity
supply in Austria was based on the 2%%sup nd/% Nationalisation Act of
1947. Under this Act the Austrian electricity industry was responsible
for ensuring the supply of customers with sufficient electric energy
at reasonable cost. Companies whose output was below 200 kW and
all those in-plant generating stations whose annual delivery to
outside consumers was below 100,000 kWh were not subject to
nationalisation.
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The implementation of the Elektrizitaetswirt. und Organsiationsgesetz
(EIWOG, Electronics Industry Organisation Act) in 1999 saw the
beginning of the liberalisation of the electricity market in Austria
as had been envisaged by the EU. This enabled an increasing number of
customers (e.g. major industrial consumers) to access electricity from
other suppliers than those of the area where they are located;
customers from abroad are thus also able to purchase electricity from
Austria.
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Administration and management are largely the domain of the
Verbundkonzern, which operates at supra-regional level. It distributes
electric power all over the country and makes sure that production and
demand are balanced. Each provincial company is responsible for
regional power supply. These companies deliver power to their
customers directly or supply public or privately owned electricity
companies throughout the province and operate the network of power
lines in their service area. Most of them also generate electric power
in their own power-plants. These provincial companies are: BEWAG
(Burgenland Elektrizitaets-AG), Energie AG Oberoesterreich, EVN AG
(Lower Austria), KELAG (Kaernten Elektrizitaets-AG), SAFE (Salzburg
AG fuer Energiewirtschaft), STEWEAG (Steirische Wasserkraft- und
Elektrizitaets-AG), TIWAG (Tiroler Wasserkraftwerke-AG), VKW
(Vorarlberger Kraftwerke-AG), Wienstrom.
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In addition, there are 5 electricity companies which are owned and
operated by provincial capitals (municipal power stations in Graz,
Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg); as well as over 100 local,
co-operative and private power companies.
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Two thirds of Austria´s electric energy demand is covered by
hydroelectric power plants, i.e. by run-of-river plants on
Austria´s numerous rivers (in particular the River Danube;
Donaukraft, Ennskraft, Draukraftwerke AG) and by the storage power
stations in the Alpine regions ( Tauernkraftwerke AG, Draukraft etc.).
The rest of the demand is covered by thermal power plants and by
imports. The share of electric energy in total power consumption in
Austria is 20 %. Between 1970 and 1998 the generation of current
more than doubled, from 27,128 GWh to 56,599 GWh (1 GWh
= 1 million kWh).
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Since the late 1980s research has gained increasing importance in the
electricity industry. This development led in 1991 to the foundation
of Energieforschungsgemeinschaft (EFG - Energy Research Group) within
the Association of Austrian Power Plants. This group is committed to
developing future-oriented energy technologies, promoting recyclable
energy and innovative methods of more efficient energy use, and
studying the environmental, social, legal and economic aspects of
energy production and use. For this purpose, it co-operates with
universities and research centres at national and international level.
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Its main fields of activity are photovoltaics (solar energy), wind
energy and the use of biomass. Various groups of experts are dealing
with "Integrated Resource Planning", the aim being to develop
efficient and environmentally benign forms of energy use.
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Until 1999, the Prices and Tariffs Act laid down the principles for
fixing electricity tariffs in Austria. Usually the Verbundkonzern
(Austria´s electricity association) submitted a proposal to the
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs, which subjected it to a
preliminary scrutiny in which statutory interest groups participated.
The proposal was then submitted to the Price Commission for study and
the result promulgated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs as an
administrative decision stipulating the price of electric power
(usually a maximum price). The law of 1999 (EIWOG) constitutes the
step toward liberalising electricity prices, which mainly affects the
provincial supply companies. Further liberalisation measures have been
planned for the near future.
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