New grid tariffs 2027: What is changing for heat pumps?

Will the new grid tariffs make heat pumps more expensive? This question is popping up frequently on forums right now, usually alongside the abbreviations SNAP and WiNAP. The background: from 1 January 2027, electricity grid operators in Austria will calculate grid tariffs according to new principles. E-Control sent a draft of the Systemnutzungsentgelte-Grundsatzverordnung (SNE-G-V) (System Usage Fee Ordinance) out for review in the summer. There are no cent amounts in it yet; those will follow with the tariff ordinance. However, the structure is clear, and it affects households with a heat pump more than others. In winter, the heat pump is usually the largest consumer of electricity in the house.

The short answer

Those who draw a lot of power from the grid for short periods will pay more in particular. A well-set heat pump that runs steadily fits well with the new model. Whether the bottom-line bill goes up or down can only be said once the tariffs are finalised.

What changes according to the draft

Peak load carries a cost. In future, the grid usage tariff will consist of a capacity charge and an energy charge. For the capacity charge, the highest measured 15-minute value per calendar month counts. On grid level 7 (low voltage), two rates are planned: one for the portion up to 10 kW and one for everything above that. At least 20 percent of the agreed capacity will be charged, but in any case at least 2 kW.

Existing house connections: For connections installed or contractually agreed before 2027, a capacity of 10 kW is deemed agreed for calculating the tariff. Exceptions are connections whose capacity was already higher beforehand.

Cheaper time windows: In the winter half of the year, from 1 October to 31 March, a separate low energy charge is to apply between 22:00 and 04:00, the Winter-Nieder-Arbeitspreis (WiNAP) (winter low energy charge). In the summer half of the year, from 1 April to 30 September, there is such a price between 10:00 and 16:00 (SNAP). Both require that your meter records 15-minute values and that the grid operator can read them.

Interruptible tariffs and flexible draw-off: Anyone who currently has an interruptible grid connection, such as a separate meter for the heat pump, will receive a transitional rule with its own prices according to the draft. From 1 January 2030, the regular tariff will then apply. Flexible draw-off is new: you grant the grid operator the right to curtail your power during up to two periods per day of no more than four hours each, in extreme cases entirely. In return, the capacity charge drops. At your request, the grid operator must enter into such an agreement. It generally runs for ten years, but you can still give ordinary notice of cancellation.

What this means for the heat pump

The new model rewards a steady load profile. A correctly sized, variable-speed heat pump spreads its power output over many hours. Moments when several large consumers coincide will become expensive: immersion heater, cooker, wallbox and hot water heating all in the same 15-minute period.

The immersion heater in particular deserves a close look. It heats without ambient heat and at the same time raises your monthly peak. If it runs more often than necessary on cold days, you will pay twice in future.

The nighttime window in winter can help if heat can be stored, for instance in a hot water storage tank or in slow-responding underfloor heating. It is not completely free: it is colder at night, so the heat pump works slightly less efficiently. Whether shifting load is worth it depends on the gap between prices, which we will only know with the tariff ordinance. In summer, the lunchtime window fits well with hot water heating, especially with your own PV system.

What you can do now

1. Check your meter: Ask your grid operator whether your smart meter transmits 15-minute values. Without these values, you cannot access the cheaper time windows.
2. Look at peaks: Many grid operators show your daily consumption profile in their customer portal. Check when your highest values occur.
3. Check the immersion heater: Have your installer check at which outside temperature the immersion heater switches on and whether the setting matches the heating load.
4. Calculate interruptible meter costs: If your heat pump currently runs on its own interruptible tariff, ask what will apply to you from 2027 and whether flexible draw-off would be cheaper.
5. Plan ahead with care: An oversized system brings higher peaks and poorer efficiency. Our calculator provides a first assessment.

We will return to this topic as soon as E-Control publishes the tariffs for 2027. If you are making concrete plans, you can obtain quotes from installers via our request for quotes.