Myths and legends

There are many myths and legends surrounding the topic of energy communities – and very few of them are true. Here we show you the most common misconceptions and what's really behind them.

If I join the energy community, I have to cancel my energy supplier (e.g. Wien Energie, Verbund, etc.).

No, the energy supplier can remain the same. The Energy Community is merely an addition to the energy supplier.

Vienna Energy Community? Another new energy company!

That's not true, because we are not an energy supplier like Wien Energie or Verbund. We are non-profit associations in which members share electricity among themselves, and we are merely an extension (or addition) to the traditional electricity supply contract.

I cannot participate because I do not have a photovoltaic system

That's not true – you don't need your own PV system to participate in an energy community. This is precisely the great advantage: Even households and businesses without their own solar systems can purchase affordable PV electricity from other members through the community.

I can't switch because I'm still tied to my energy supplier for a longer period.

If you join an energy community, your contract with your energy supplier will remain in place, as the energy community is an addition to the energy supplier and has no effect on your contract with the energy supplier.

Energy communities have to lay their own power cables – this cannot be profitable.

We do not lay our own power cables because an energy community is purely a billing model.

I don’t have a photovoltaic system, so I can’t participate in the energy community.

Anyone can participate in an energy community, whether with or without a photovoltaic system.

If the energy community goes bankrupt, I will suddenly have no electricity.

No, that can't happen. Because even if the energy community stops supplying electricity, the energy supplier (e.g., Wien Energie, Verbund, etc.) will automatically supply it. And we would also like to point out that energy communities are purely billing models.

If the energy community cannot supply electricity, I will have a power outage.

No, that is not possible either, because if the energy community cannot supply electricity (e.g. in the case of heavy snowfall in a regional EEG), then the electricity automatically comes from the energy supplier (e.g. Wien Energie, Verbund, etc.).

I have a power outage – the energy community is definitely to blame.

No, because we have nothing to do with the power grid. In the event of a local or regional power outage in Vienna, this usually falls within the jurisdiction of the Vienna grid, and in the event of a larger—perhaps Austria-wide—outage, this usually falls within the jurisdiction of the Austrian Power Grid (APG).

I cannot participate in any energy community because my electrical wiring is ancient.

Anyone can participate in an energy community. There are no special requirements for electrical wiring, and no changes to the electrical wiring are necessary.

I cannot participate in an energy community because my landlord does not allow me to.

If the electricity connection is registered to you or your partner, your landlord cannot prevent you from participating in an energy community and he won't even know it.

I live in an allotment association, so I cannot participate in an energy community.

Each house in an allotment association usually has its own meter. Sometimes the electricity supply may be single-phase (230 volts). Participation is also possible without restrictions.

That can’t work because, as we all know, electricity has no “mesh”.

It's true that electricity cannot be distinguished by its origin or source. However, we receive quarter-hourly data from the smart meters of all our members, allowing us to allocate the electricity fed into the grid to our customers. Don't forget: the energy community is a pure billing model. Because our members consume most of the electricity when it is generated, this has significant positive effects, such as relieving the strain on regional and supra-regional power grids.

I'm afraid that the energy community will empty my electricity storage.

As an energy community, we don't have direct access to your power storage or photovoltaic system. You alone decide when and how much electricity you feed into the public grid. It's technically impossible for us to discharge your power storage independently.

And what's the catch? Everything has a catch!

The non-profit energy communities are designed to benefit everyone. There is no catch. However, one disadvantage of renewable energy communities (EEGs) is the Weather dependenceOn days with little sun, photovoltaic systems produce correspondingly less electricity – similarly, wind turbines behave when there is hardly any wind. Therefore, the amount of available electricity fluctuates depending on the weather conditions.

Do you know any other myths and legends about energy communities?
If so, please let us here knowledge!

Of course, there are always legitimate questions that we are happy to answer. The most frequently asked questions – also known as FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) – you will find here.