Power outages cost German companies thousands of euros every year and bring production processes to a standstill. Many companies feel left alone with the problem.
According to reports from Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), short-term power outages in particular have a significant financial impact on German companies. This is shown by a survey by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK).
This is impressively illustrated by the example of the Thoma company in Heimertingen. Managing director Andrea Thoma-Böck reported to BR about “eleven power outages in our company” in 2023. This resulted in “production coming to a standstill for hours.” Even small power outages can cause serious damage. “They can cause production to come to a standstill for hours,” says Thoma-Böck.
The DIHK survey shows that 42 percent of companies were affected by short-term power outages. Even though Germany is known for its stable electricity grid, it is the short interruptions, which often only last in the millisecond range, that cause concerns for companies. Damage occurs across all voltage levels and inevitably leads to financial losses. A third of companies estimate the additional costs at up to 10,000 euros per year, 15 percent at 100,000 euros and two percent even at over 100,000 euros.
The causes of the failures are varied, with extreme weather conditions or technical problems usually being the cause. The responsible electricity provider in the Thoma case denies any connection with the energy transition.
However, companies are largely left to deal with the problems on their own. Andrea Thoma-Böck complains to the BR that there is currently no “sensible solution” for her company and calls on politicians to take action. The amount of storage we need is not yet on the market and will likely be unaffordable for now,” she said.