Municipal heat planning; application for lump-sum compensation for additional burdens

Municipal heat planning incurs additional costs for cities and municipalities. These are compensated by the Free State on application.

Verwaltungsleistungen zur kommunalen Wärmeplanung in Bayern
Cities and municipalities can apply online for a lump-sum compensation for additional costs for the creation of a heating plan.

For contact details of the responsible authoritiy and local valid information select under "Select location" a location.

The Heat Planning and Decarbonization of Heating Networks Act (Wärmeplanungsgesetz - WPG) has been in force at federal level since 1 January 2024. It obliges the federal states to ensure that their municipalities draw up a heating plan by 2028 at the latest. Since January 2, 2025, the associated Ordinance on the Implementation of Energy Industry Regulations (AVEn) has also applied to municipal heat planning in Bavaria. This transfers the obligation for heat planning to the municipalities in Bavaria as the bodies responsible for planning.

As the bodies responsible for planning, the municipalities are obliged to draw up a plan that sets out how the heat supply in their city or municipality can be implemented in a climate-neutral manner.

The cities and municipalities incur additional costs for the preparation of the expert reports as well as administrative and personnel costs. The additional costs incurred are compensated on a flat-rate basis in accordance with the principle of connectivity. In concrete terms, this means that the municipalities are entitled to compensation for their additional costs. In the consultation process, the Bavarian Association of Municipalities and the Bavarian Association of Cities and Towns have agreed on lump sums with the Bavarian state government. Information on the amounts of the flat rates can be found under "Further links".

As the responsible authority, the Bavarian State Office for Weights and Measures carries out the following services as part of the implementation of heat planning:

Call-off of funds for the lump-sum compensation for additional burdens when carrying out heat planning (start installment and final installment) incl. assessment in accordance with § 21 No. 5 WPG.
Call-off of funds for the reduced lump-sum compensation for additional burdens in the case of heat plans protected by inventory (flat-rate administrative costs)
Call-off of funds for the reduced lump-sum additional charge compensation through a waiver in accordance with Section 14 (6) WPG (administrative cost lump sum)

Municipalities that start or have already started planning without an existing heat plan receive the connectivity payment in two installments: 50% as a start installment at the beginning and 50% after submission of the heat plan as a final installment.

Municipalities that have already applied for or received funding from the federal government (e.g. ZUG funding) or the state (e.g. ENP funding and recognition as a heat plan) are generally covered by grandfathering in accordance with Section 5 (2) WPG. These municipalities then receive a flat-rate administrative fee.

Municipalities can dispense with heat planning if the heat supply of the planned area or sub-area is already completely or almost completely based on renewable energies, unavoidable waste heat or a combination of these. In this case, they are also entitled to the flat-rate administrative fee.

The following documents are required:
- when calling up the final installment: final heating plan
- when applying for an inventory-protected heating plan: final heating plan
- in the case of a waiver: proof, e.g. energy balance sheet

The relevant service (initial installment, final installment, grandfathering or waiver) must be submitted by the municipality using the online procedure provided (see "Online procedure").

For cities with more than 45,000 inhabitants, an assessment in accordance with Section 21 No. 5 WPG is carried out when the heating plan is submitted.

There are no costs.

There are no deadlines to be observed when submitting an application.

The processing time depends on the number of applications received.

The Heat Planning Act (WPG) sets deadlines for the preparation of municipal heat planning based on the population of the individual municipality:

More than 100,000 inhabitants: by June 30, 2026
100,000 inhabitants or less: by June 30, 2028

Note on grandfathering pursuant to Section 5 (2) WPG (including ZUG funding): If a municipality wishes to grandfather a heat plan (e.g. as part of the so-called ZUG funding), it is obliged to draw up and publish the municipal heat plan by June 30, 2026 at the latest. If ZUG funding is used, any deviating deadlines set by the funding provider must also be observed.