GEIG: charging point obligations for commercial properties and residential complexes

With the Building Electromobility Infrastructure Act (Gebäude-Elektromobilitätsinfrastruktur-Gesetz, GEIG), Germany implements European requirements for charging infrastructure at buildings. The act has been in force since March 2021 and affects owners of residential and non-residential buildings with parking spaces – from office buildings and supermarkets to residential complexes with underground car parks. Since 1 January 2025, an obligation has also applied to many existing commercial properties.

Charging point and cabling infrastructure: the terms

The GEIG distinguishes between two things:

• A charging point (Ladepunkt) is a facility at which one electric vehicle at a time can be charged – for example a wallbox.
• Cabling infrastructure (Leitungsinfrastruktur) comprises all cable routes such as empty conduits, cable protection ducts or cable trays that will later accommodate electrical and data cables for charging points.

Preparing with cabling infrastructure is considerably cheaper while construction or renovation work is taking place anyway. Making wall openings and digging trenches at a later stage costs many times as much.

The obligations at a glance

A major renovation within the meaning of the GEIG exists if more than 25% of the surface area of the building envelope is renovated. The obligations apply if the work includes the car park or the electrical infrastructure of the building or the car park.

Exemptions

• Small and medium-sized enterprises: Non-residential buildings that are owned by SMEs (KMU) and predominantly used by them are exempt from the obligations.
• Disproportionate costs: If, in a major renovation, the costs of charging and cabling infrastructure exceed 7% of the total cost of the renovation, the obligation does not apply.
• Neighbourhood solutions (Quartierslösungen): For existing non-residential buildings, several owners of neighbouring buildings can fulfil their obligation jointly.

Breaches of the GEIG can be punished as an administrative offence with a fine of up to €10,000.

Outlook: the new EU Buildings Directive

The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), revised in 2024, provides for more extensive requirements for charging infrastructure, including more pre-cabled parking spaces. Its transposition into German law may tighten the GEIG requirements in the coming years. Anyone building or refurbishing today should therefore make generous provision and check the current legal position.

How to meet the obligation cost-effectively

1. Survey: How many parking spaces are there, how much power does the grid connection provide, and where are suitable cable routes?
2. Load calculation: Is the existing distribution system sufficient, or does the low-voltage main distribution board (NSHV) need to be extended?
3. Concept with load management: Dynamic load management distributes the available power across all charging points and avoids expensive grid connection upgrades.
4. Preparation with spare capacity: Lay empty conduits and cable routes for additional charging points at the same time – doing so later is considerably more expensive.
5. Clarify billing: Will employees, customers or tenants be charging? Then you need suitable charging points that comply with German calibration law (eichrechtskonform) and a billing system.
6. Registration and controllability: Charging points must be registered with the grid operator (Netzbetreiber). Depending on the power, approval requirements and the rules of § 14a EnWG apply.

Who is the GEIG relevant for?

In Cologne, Hürth and the Rhein-Erft district, the act affects, for example, office buildings, retail premises, hotels, logistics and business parks as well as new residential complexes with underground car parks. Property managers and owners' associations (Eigentümergemeinschaften) should put the topic on the agenda at the next refurbishment at the latest.

We plan and install charging infrastructure for businesses and residential complexes – from load management to extending the distribution system. Find out more under E-mobility & solar and Industrial electrical engineering. How individual charging points are installed is explained in our guide Installing a wallbox.