New year, new goals.
Important deadlines and innovations: What matters now and what you stand to gain
2026 has begun. For companies and public authorities alike, the question of the relevance of energy management has finally been answered: it has gone from being a topic for the future to everyday practice.
Legal requirements are being fully enforced, inspections are becoming stricter, and network operators are taking a more proactive approach. But those who master their energy structures gain more than just legal compliance—they identify potential for optimization, recognize unnecessary energy consumption, and secure clear competitive advantages.
The regulatory framework: Why legislators are now getting serious
Behind the current obligations are three key pieces of legislation that have undergone fundamental reform in recent years in order to achieve the national climate targets for 2030 and 2045. We have already provided more detailed information about these laws in previous newsletters.
1. The Energy Efficiency Act
(EnEfG)
- When was it introduced? The EnEfG came into force in November 2023.
- Why? It is the first law to set binding targets for reducing primary and final energy consumption in Germany. The aim is to implement the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and to place a direct obligation on companies to exploit unused waste heat potential and provide measurable evidence of energy savings.
2. The Energy Services Act
(EDL-G)
- When was it introduced? Originally introduced in 2015, the last significant amendment was made in 2023 to harmonize it with the EnEfG.
- Why? It requires non-SMEs to conduct regular energy audits. The focus has now shifted away from pure company size to actual consumption to ensure that the largest energy consumers make the biggest efficiency gains.
3. The amended Section 14a EnWG
(Energy Industry Act)
- When was it introduced? The new regulation came into force on January 1, 2024, and will be fully implemented in 2026.
- Why? To guarantee blackout protection while simultaneously ramping up e-mobility and heat pumps. Instead of refusing connections, grid operators are now allowed to control them. In return, companies receive reduced grid fees for their flexibility.
2026 – Turning point in the Energy Efficiency Act
Companies with an annual consumption of 7.5 GWh or more:
Although the EnEfG has been in force since 2023, 2026 is the date when authorities will systematically check for the first time whether the system is effective, including proof of measures that have actually been implemented. The introduction of an energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 or EMAS is mandatory.
Companies with an annual consumption of 2.5 GWh or more:
This is where the obligation to draw up and publish concrete implementation plans for identified savings measures comes into play. Important: the publication obligation is expressly provided for by law. This creates full transparency vis-à-vis the authorities and the public.
Public authorities with annual consumption of 1 GWh or more:
You are under particular time pressure in 2026. According to Section 6 of the EnEfG, you must have a fully functional energy or environmental management system in place by June 30, 2026. ISO 50005 offers the ideal, legally compliant entry point as a step-by-step model.
| Annual consumption | Who is affected? | Obligation | Deadlines / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| >7.5 GWh | Companies | ISO 50001 | Ongoing proof of effectiveness |
| >2.5 GWh GWh | Companies | Publish implementation plans | Continuously mandatory |
| > 1 – 3 GWh | Public authorities | Energy/environmental management system | Deadline: June 30, 2026 |
Transparency determines success or stagnation
An energy audit every four years (DIN EN 16247-1) will no longer suffice in 2026. A continuous, reliable data basis is required.
Auditors expect precise statements on load profiles and savings potential for ancillary processes such as compressed air, cooling, or ventilation. Estimates are no longer accepted.
In addition, the GEG (Building Energy Act) requires certain non-residential buildings to have digital building automation, which enables energy consumption to be monitored and technical systems to be coordinated. Investing in this reduces running costs and increases system availability.
Section 14a EnWG: Load management as concrete optimization
Network-oriented control of consumption devices (e.g., charging infrastructure, heat pumps) has become part of everyday life. Network operators are allowed to throttle power in the event of bottlenecks. Without intelligent load management, companies risk unstable processes or delays in logistics.
Your advantage: Those who manage their loads intelligently not only secure production, but also actively reduce their grid fees via Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG). This turns the legal obligation into a tangible financial gain.
Network quality: Operational reliability beyond the call of duty
In addition to efficiency and load control, there is one factor that is often underestimated: grid quality. The massive expansion of photovoltaic systems and charging infrastructure, the use of frequency converters, and modern power electronics are causing a significant increase in grid disturbances and harmonics.
Important to know:
In contrast to energy management, monitoring grid quality is currently only partially required by law.
VDE 4100 states that the operator of a customer system must limit repercussions on the grid operator’s low-voltage grid to a permissible level. In addition, VDE 4105 and 4110 state that connection participants may only feed a limited amount of harmonic current into the utility grid.
However, those who ignore this issue risk expensive production downtime, overheated transformers, and gradual damage to sensitive control systems.
In summary: unmanageable and unexpected additional costs. To avoid future problems and unplanned downtime, power quality should therefore be firmly integrated into infrastructure planning.
The path to a stable network involves three steps:
- Finding faults:
Before measures can be taken, network faults and their causes must be precisely located. Professional measurement and evaluation by power quality experts provides clarity here. Only those who know the sources of harmonics or voltage distortions can take targeted action. - Minimizing disturbances:
To keep your network clean, solutions such as active and passive filters or systems for reactive power compensation are indispensable today. They eliminate repercussions directly where they arise. - Looking ahead with power quality monitoring:
Those who think ahead consistently rely on continuous monitoring. This is the next or first logical step: it enables predictive analysis, identifies risks before damage occurs, and allows proactive intervention to avoid expensive additional costs.
KBR supports you right from the start with in-depth network analyses carried out by our experts directly on site. We identify the sources of interference in your system, evaluate the measurement results, and design the exact filter and compensation solutions to meet your needs.
Systematic energy management: The KBR solution
KBR supports you with a holistic approach that seamlessly combines hardware and software:
- visual energy: The certified software automates reporting for ISO 50001/50005 and delivers the economic efficiency analyses required by law at the touch of a button.
- multimess: These measuring devices simultaneously record consumption and grid quality, creating the necessary transparency for audits.
- System solutions: Active and passive filters and compensation systems minimize grid disturbances, while our load management systems keep your processes stable even during load optimization.
Act now – actively shape 2026
Acting now will help you avoid penalties and reduce unexpected costs. Take advantage of the start of the year to further develop your infrastructure in a targeted manner and remain compliant with the law. Our team of experts will support you from analysis to ongoing operation.
Experience efficiency live—for example, in one of our webinars.
Register for our KBR webinars and gain practical, in-depth insights and strategies for greater efficiency and operational safety.
Would you like to reduce your energy costs?
Our experts are available to answer your individual questions personally.
Yours, Jonas Klaus
Technical Editor
KBR GmbH