Digitalising the German energy transition for utilities and grid operators.
Programme leadership, architecture, regulation and prototype from one source. From §14a to the IS-U replacement, from the deadline to a system that runs.
DEADLINES
The next dates for grid, metering and market
The next deadlines that trigger budgets and programmes in 2026 and 2027. As of 11 September 2026.
Gas WACC: end of the consultation on the rate of return
Gas distribution grid operators can still comment on the draft ruling on the flat rate of return. The 3.76 percent rate carries the revenue caps of the fifth gas regulatory period from 2028.
Grid & low voltage 18 September 2026AgNeS: consultation on the grid charge reform closes
Comments on the new electricity grid charge system at the Grand Ruling Chamber; framework ruling by end of 2026.
Flexibility, storage & grid charges 28 September 2026Grid development scenarios 2027: end of the consultation
Distribution grid operators and municipal utilities can comment on the draft electricity and gas/hydrogen scenarios. These assumptions frame the grid development plan and with it the hydrogen volumes that reach their own gas networks.
Grid & low voltage 1 October 2026MaKo format release, notice no. 56
26 EDIFACT formats and AS4 adjustments become binding. Test schedule, clarification processes and fallback scenarios must be in place.
Market communication & market processes 1 October 2026MiSpeL: ruling on market integration of storage and charging points
Balancing and grid charges for storage and bidirectional charging points; MaKo automation only from 2027.
Flexibility, storage & grid charges 1 October 2026WiM Gas 2.0 applies
Digitalised metering switch processes for gas, new message formats.
Market communication & market processes 31 October 2026Grid expansion plan under section 14d EnWG: first filing
Distribution system operators file the grid expansion plan with the regulator for the first time, then every two years. Required content includes a congestion analysis of existing line sections with the measures planned for them, ordered as optimisation, reinforcement and expansion.
Grid & low voltage 2 December 2026EU AI Act: labelling duty extends to AI already in use
The four month transition period ends. Generative AI systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026 must mark their output in machine readable form, which covers chatbots and text generators in utility customer service.
IT architecture, data & AISERVICES
What innobu delivers
Four services, one senior who pitches and delivers, a partner network for scale.
Interim programme and portfolio lead
One senior steers the grid and metering portfolio and delivers in it: PMO, dependency maps, steering committee.
More on programme leadership →Enterprise architecture and target picture
IS-U replacement, IT/OT, data architecture: the target picture that holds the programmes together.
More on architecture →Regulatory implementation
§14a, MsbG, NIS2, MaKo: law and rulings translated into requirements, with a date.
More on regulation →Prototype and AI
Working code in days, AI in grid operations from pilot to regular operation, with a governance that stands up to the regulator.
More on prototyping and AI →For international vendors and investors: market entry and regulatory translation for the German energy market, from market roles to MaKo.
REFERENCE
Reference: Energy and grid, municipal utility in northern Germany
External portfolio and program lead in the grid division of a municipal utility in northern Germany, ongoing since 2024. Across all utilities: electricity, district heating, water and fibre.
Grid portfolio
Built and runs the 2025 to 2030 program and portfolio steering.
§14a EnWG
Steering program with five sub-projects, from scoping to billing.
Smart meter rollout
iMSys across electricity, district heating and water, as program lead.
Customer and grid connection portal
Across utilities including fibre, from concept to live phase 3.
Architecture and governance
Program office, roadmap, decision paths established.
FOCUS AREAS
Digitalising the energy transition
Eight fields innobu works in for utilities and grid operators, from the deadline to a system that runs.
Grid & low voltage
Digital secondary substations, grid state, redispatch, grid connection.
View topics →Smart metering, SMGW & §14a
From rollout via gateway and control box to grid-oriented control.
View topics →Market communication & market processes
MaKo releases, LFW24, MaBiS hub, balancing, master data.
View topics →Flexibility, storage & grid charges
MiSpeL, AgNeS, time-variable charges, energy sharing, direct marketing.
View topics →Heat & gas network transformation
Heat planning, district heating twin, gas network transformation plan.
View topics →Portals & customer processes
Grid connection portal, feed-in processes, customer portal, charging infrastructure.
View topics →Cybersecurity & resilience
NIS2, KRITIS umbrella act, IT security catalogue, OT security.
View topics →IT architecture, data & AI
IS-U replacement, Clean Core, data spaces, AI in grid operations, EU AI Act.
View topics →KNOWLEDGE HUB
Latest energy insights
Current analyses of deadlines, rulings and systems of the German energy transition, written for utilities, grid operators and metering operators.
TOOLS
Tools for your programmes
Reference tools
Deadline calendar 2026/27 Regulatory matrix for energy providers Market roles in the energy market Enterprise architecture with SAP EU AI Act and AI regulation Agentic Harness EngineeringLET'S COLLABORATE
Put our experience to work
Let's discuss how your programmes for grid, metering and market processes benefit from regulation, architecture and portfolio in one hand.