Austria’s leading electricity supplier plans to increase its hydro power exports to Germany and Italy. Vienna-based Verbund says it expects to market a total of 10,000GWh/year to the two countries by 2003.
A Bavarian subsidiary of Verbund has already won several major customers in Germany, including the municipal utilities (Stadtwerke) for Munich and Tegernsee. Christian Kern, head of strategic marketing, claims that the Austrian firm can deliver green power without the price premium required by most German Suppliers.
Verbund aims to be the leading non-German supplier in south and central Germany within the next three years. It will also market hydro in north Germany if the new industry agreement on grid access (due to be finalised by January 2000) ends the current distance component for payments.