German utility Eon Group says Germany may lag behind in the transition to clean energy due to counterproductive regulations and “vague” political promises. The company plans to invest 43 billion euros between 2024 and 2028, mainly in Europe's electricity grid. The company said the new German government has yet to set out to increase the rate of return on such investments, which it believes are critical to the energy transition. Although the utility is already moving ahead with its multi-billion euro spending plan — an increase of 11% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year — Eon Group previously said it could spend an additional 10 billion euros if conditions were more favorable. German grid operators have long argued that the rate of return set by regulators is too low, which hampers much-needed infrastructure upgrades. However, increasing the rate of return could further burden consumers already under pressure from high energy prices, and run counter to Berlin's plans to lower consumer bills.

German utility Eon Group says Germany may lag behind in the transition to clean energy due to counterproductive regulations and “vague” political promises. The company plans to invest 43 billion euros between 2024 and 2028, mainly in Europe's electricity grid. The company said the new German government has yet to set out to increase the rate of return on such investments, which it believes are critical to the energy transition. Although the utility is already moving ahead with its multi-billion euro spending plan — an increase of 11% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year — Eon Group previously said it could spend an additional 10 billion euros if conditions were more favorable. German grid operators have long argued that the rate of return set by regulators is too low, which hampers much-needed infrastructure upgrades. However, increasing the rate of return could further burden consumers already under pressure from high energy prices, and run counter to Berlin's plans to lower consumer bills.