Grid connections for workplace charging infrastructure: prepare your enquiry and expansion
Start planning the grid connection before placing binding orders for chargers. For a reliable enquiry, the grid operator needs the location, existing supply, planned charging equipment and power required at the same time. Interaction with the rest of the business is crucial: adding up all the kW ratings on equipment describes neither actual demand nor the spare capacity of your connection.
This article covers preparation in Germany, with the legal position as of 24 September 2026. The responsible grid operator determines the specific connection solution and required documentation for the project.
First clarify who uses which connection
On an owned site, the allocation is often straightforward. In a rented building or business park, however, the owner, connection customer, electricity contract holder and charging point operator may be different companies. Check which connection will supply the charging points and who may submit the necessary declarations.
Obtain existing plans, meter or connection references and the documented connection capacity. An electricity supply contract does not automatically establish which technical capacity is available contractually and physically. High annual consumption also does not prove that sufficient power remains available in the evening.
Appoint a project lead and a technical contact. The grid operator should receive consistent information rather than having to reconcile separate enquiries from Procurement, the landlord and the installer.
Translate fleet requirements into verifiable load scenarios
Do not provide only the number of vehicles. Describe the time windows in which energy is actually needed. The existing article on charging strategies for EV fleets classifies charging locations; for the connection enquiry, you also need to show how demand is concentrated over time at the specific site.
Prepare at least three load scenarios: current normal operation, a demanding but realistic operating day and the first firmly planned expansion phase. For each, state the intended maximum charging power and how it will be limited technically. Record whether the limit is intended to be permanent or only transitional.
A hypothetical example illustrates the difference: ten charging points rated at 11 kW each have a combined nominal power of 110 kW. Planned load management can limit simultaneous demand in the charging area to a lower value. Whether this is sufficient for the vehicles and accepted by the grid operator in the connection design must be checked. The limit does not simply remove notification or consent requirements.
These documents make an enquiry meaningful
Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
Site plan and proposed installation location | Connection route, property boundaries and building context |
Existing connection data | Clarify the starting point and connection customer |
Load profile or suitable consumption measurements | Identify simultaneous building load and potential spare capacity |
Charging equipment data sheets | Assess power, operating mode and technical characteristics |
Load and energy management concept | Understand limits and priorities |
Expansion phases with dates | Distinguish initial demand from later expansion |
Information on PV or battery storage | Account for other energy flows and operating scenarios |
Have missing information explicitly marked. A provisional power estimate is useful for an initial discussion, but must not unnoticed become a binding design assumption later. The registration information from Stadtwerke München shows, as an example, that both charging power and total power required simultaneously are requested. Use your own grid operator's requirements for your application.
Low voltage: distinguish notification from consent
Under section 19 of Germany's Low Voltage Connection Ordinance (NAV), charging equipment must be notified to the grid operator before commissioning. If its combined rated apparent power exceeds 12 kVA per electrical installation, prior consent is also required. In this consent case, the grid operator must respond within two months of receiving the notification. This response period does not guarantee that any necessary expansion will be complete after two months. The provision concerns low-voltage supply; larger projects may be subject to different connection conditions. Official text: section 19 NAV.
Also have it checked whether the rules for controllable consumption devices under section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG) apply. A commercial fleet is not exempt solely because of its business use. Relevant factors include the connection voltage level, commissioning and public accessibility. When control is through an energy management system, minimum power is determined collectively; do not assume guaranteed individual supply for every charging point. German Federal Network Agency: installations covered.
Compare expansion with a limited initial setup
If the desired power is not initially available, assess several technically permissible options. A smaller first charging phase may allow the fleet to start earlier. Longer charging windows, different vehicle allocations or greater use of existing home charging locations can change site demand.
Compare this interim solution with a later full expansion. Include additional public charging costs, work-related travel time and any duplicated conversion work. A temporarily inexpensive solution can become costly if it must be replaced shortly afterwards. Conversely, the largest immediate expansion is not automatically economical if the additional vehicles will not arrive for years.
Battery storage is also a separate investment. It can shift certain power peaks, but itself requires energy, suitable charging periods and an agreed operating model. It does not replace a connection application that has not been assessed, and it cannot supply unlimited energy.
Separate the grid quote, construction work and operating costs
Ask for a cost breakdown: grid operator work, possible contributions to network construction costs, your own electrical installation, groundworks, metering, controls and chargers. The German Federal Network Agency explains that a contribution to construction costs may be payable when a low-voltage connection is established or its capacity increased. The actual amount follows from the specific connection offer. German Federal Network Agency: grid connections.
Also review ongoing charges and contractual power assumptions. An inexpensive charger says little about total site costs. A quote should also identify services that are not included and the prerequisites you must fulfil before construction starts.
Use clear approvals before ordering and commissioning
Work with three decision points. First, the company confirms its operational needs. Next, the connection solution, consents, costs and schedule dependencies are clarified. Only then are the coordinated construction and hardware services given binding approval. Ordering some items in advance can make sense, but should be a conscious decision at your own risk and with suitable contractual conditions.
Before startup, bring together the required technical checks, documentation and approvals. Also check whether load management and the metering concept match the installation actually built. A later change in power is not merely a software request if it changes connection requirements.
For site planning with StromNow Fleet , you can have connection documents, load data and vehicle time windows considered together. For an enquiry about workplace charging infrastructure , send the site, current supply, desired first phase and target date. This starts the discussion with a verifiable charging supply solution.
Frequently asked questions
What data is needed for an initial grid connection enquiry for company charging points?
Compile a site plan, existing connection references, documented connection capacity, charger data and, if possible, a site load profile. Add the charging power required simultaneously, planned load management and specific expansion phases. Name the connection customer and technical contact. High annual consumption does not reveal spare power capacity over time. The final document list depends on your grid operator; explicitly mark provisional values so that they do not unnoticed become binding assumptions.
When is notification to the grid operator sufficient, and when is consent required?
For low-voltage supply in Germany, you must notify the grid operator of charging equipment before commissioning. If its combined rated apparent power exceeds 12 kVA per electrical installation, prior consent is also required. In this consent case, the grid operator must respond within two months. The deadline does not guarantee completed grid expansion. The governing provision is section 19 of Germany's Low Voltage Connection Ordinance (NAV); clarify the specific connection solution before approving hardware.
Do registration and consent become unnecessary if load management limits power?
No, a limit does not automatically remove the need for coordination. Provide nominal power ratings and the technically planned simultaneous demand separately. The grid operator must be able to assess how the limit is implemented and which load scenarios arise. Low-voltage notification and consent rules are governed by section 19 NAV. A software setting alone is therefore not a sufficient basis for skipping the procedure.
Are commercial fleets exempt from the rules under section 14a EnWG?
Business use alone does not create a blanket exemption. Check factors including connection voltage level, power, commissioning date and public accessibility. If control is through an energy management system, minimum power must be determined collectively and then distributed; you cannot simply assign a separate guaranteed minimum supply to each charging point. The German Federal Network Agency explains the installations and control methods covered. Have the specific load scenario for your site derived from these requirements.