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Participation in federal sectoral planning for grid expansion projects, submission of comments on electricity grid expansion projects, registration for events

Are you interested in electricity grid expansion projects? Then you can find out more and get directly involved in various ways.

Online services & Forms

Online services

  • Internetseite der Bundesnetzagentur zum Netzausbau

Responsible for you

Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen - Referat 812

Street address

Tulpenfeld 4
53113 Bonn

Postal address

Postfach 80 01

53105 Bonn

Phone

+49 228 14-0

Mehr zur Behörde

Procedure details

Projects for the construction of high-voltage lines that are designated as transnational or cross-border are subject to federal sectoral planning. In this process, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) examines whether the implementation 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 developers prepare the application beforehand. At the conference, the Federal Network Agency gathers information on the regional circumstances. Anyone who has alternatives to the proposed corridors can also submit them to the application conference. The Federal Network Agency also receives comments on environmental and spatial compatibility. This information is then used to draw up a homework booklet for the project developers, the so-called study framework.
  • The next opportunity for participation is a public authority and public participation. This will take place after the developer has completed its investigations. The Federal Network Agency publishes information on the interpretation on its website.
    • Website
    • and the local daily newspapers.
  • You can submit comments as a private individual, as an association or as a public body. Public authorities are, for example, municipal authorities.
  • After the Federal Network Agency has received and reviewed all the comments, it organises a hearing. This is the third and last opportunity to participate in the federal sectoral planning process. At the hearing, the Federal Network Agency discusses the comments submitted in good time with the developer, the public interest groups 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.

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

  • Required Documents

    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.

  • As a first step, the Federal Network Agency holds a public application conference. To this end, it invites associations and public bodies. However, participation is generally open to all interested parties. After the application conference, the Federal Network Agency defines the scope of the study.
  • This is followed by the public authority and public participation process with the display and publication of the documents. Here, public bodies as well as private individuals and environmental associations have the opportunity to express their views. A hearing is then held with those entitled to participate.

There are no costs for you.

  • Deadline for citizens and associations to submit comments: 1 month
  • Deadline for public bodies: usually 8 weeks

No information can be provided on the average processing time.

  • 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)

Status: 09.03.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie
Source: Federal Portal