Stadtwerke Flensburg: Successful customer record despite decline in sales!

Stadtwerke Flensburg: Successful customer record despite decline in sales!

Stadtwerke Flensburg takes stock of the year 2024, which makes you smile, but also makes you think. Despite a decline in sales and profits, the company expanded its focus on residential customers, increasing the number of electricity and natural gas customers to around 70,000 - a new record. Overall, managing director Dirk Thole indicated that a stable basis had been created with a recent profit of around 10 million euros in a year in which over 100 million euros were made in profit during the energy crisis. It remains to be seen whether customer confidence will remain high, but the municipal utilities are now positioned to be crisis-proof and the equity ratio has been strengthened. (NDR)

The changes in the business area are complex. The municipal utilities had to part with major customers, which led to a drop in sales by around a third. The loss of Fjord Paper as a major natural gas customer was particularly painful. The local bus transport is also struggling with high investment costs for the electric drive and the new depot. Flood damage to the port has also left numbers in the red, while sales of district heating are down slightly. However, one bright spot is the growth in telecommunications with over 16,000 fiber optic customers. The decline in CO2 emissions also shows a positive commitment to the environment, although the planned climate neutrality by 2035 remains challenging.

Electricity prices and their components

Another aspect that is under discussion is electricity prices. These are made up of three parts: the pure energy price, the network usage fees and the taxes and statutory levies. The latter now account for over 50% of the electricity price and is therefore the largest cost factor. This development has been reinforced by significant increases in statutory taxes in recent years, which have changed the distribution of electricity costs. While Stadtwerke Flensburg can influence the other two price components, they are dependent on the requirements of the legislature when it comes to taxes and duties. This shows us how strongly external conditions can influence business. (Stadtwerke Flensburg)

Climate goals by 2035

A pioneering project from Stadtwerke Flensburg is the comprehensive transformation plan for the decarbonization of district heating supply. The goal is to deliver 100% CO2-neutral district heating by 2035 - that is ten years earlier than required by the current climate protection law. According to the council decision from December 2022, there are plans to supply over 90% of households in Flensburg with this environmentally friendly heat. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, extensive adjustments to the more than 700 kilometer long district heating network are required. An analysis of the district heating requirements taking various factors into account ensures a solid basis.

The transformation plan will be implemented in four phases, with each phase lasting four years. It includes, among other things, the construction of large heat pumps and the upgrading of existing systems in order to achieve the required temperature targets. 40% of the financing comes from grants, the rest is covered by equity and loans. The aim is for early completion of the project and the first green heat supply by 2027. (Handelsblatt)

In summary, it can be said that Stadtwerke Flensburg is operating in a challenging time, but is also seizing new opportunities. Whether with ambitious climate goals or a focus on private customers, it remains exciting to see how the company develops further. It shows again and again: with a good hand you can stay on course even in stormy times!