Anonymised Client Case
Utility Setup – Private Mid-Size Energy Supplier
How a private mid-size company achieved a legally complete BNetzA notification in 14 weeks and supplied its first end customers after 5 months.
Client and Scale
Private mid-size company in Germany with a core business outside the pure energy sector (e.g. housing, real estate group, industrial company – anonymised). Goal: build an in-house electricity supply function to serve existing customers and group subsidiaries directly and open up new growth areas. Scale: approx. 25,000 power customers (planned), annual delivery volume approx. 50 GWh. Motivation: increase value chain depth, reduce dependency on external suppliers, future B2C market entry.
Challenges
- No in-house expertise in power trading, GPKE/MaBiS market processes, balancing group operations.
- Existing IT landscape optimised for non-energy core business – multi-component electricity pricing model had to be integrated.
- Staffing: 2 full-time positions to fill for electricity sales and market communication.
- Time pressure: BNetzA notification needed to be in place before the start of the next fiscal year.
GPV Delivery: 13-Phase Support
Phase 1-2 (Weeks 1-4)
GmbH formation of the sales subsidiary, business registration, BDEW code application.
Phase 3 (Weeks 5-8)
BNetzA notification under §§ 5, 6 EnWG filed and legally accepted.
Phase 4-5 (Weeks 9-12)
Balancing group contract with the relevant TSO, EUR 250,000 security via bank guarantee.
Phase 6-7 (Weeks 13-16)
GPKE/MaBiS certification by external auditor, EDI@Energy integration live.
Phase 8-10 (Weeks 17-20)
Tariff calculation, IT sales system, Hauptzollamt registration, MaStR registration.
Phase 11-13 (Month 5-6)
First marketing campaign, go-live with end-customer supply, first contract signed.
Outcome
- BNetzA notification legally complete 14 weeks after project start.
- First paying end customer in month 5.
- Break-even projected for month 18 at 8,000-customer volume target.
- Setup costs approx. EUR 180,000 + EUR 250,000 balancing group security via bank guarantee.
- High customer retention through existing relationship with the parent company.