Commission's Involvement in the Development Process
On Monday, August 25th, Iqony will be hosting a public information event about District Heating at Q.lisse at 6 PM. The event was initiated following repeated requests from Mayor Lutz Maurer, reflecting the community’s interest in ensuring sustainable, reliable, and transparent district heating services.
The event comes against the backdrop of Iqony Fernwärme GmbH's recent acquisition of Uniper Wärme GmbH from Uniper SE, which was completed in early August 2025. This acquisition strengthens Iqony’s position as a major provider of climate-friendly heat in Germany, involving the management of extensive district heating networks that use combined heat and power (CHP) technologies alongside other environmentally friendly heat sources such as mine gas and waste heat from industrial processes.
Several points of criticism have been raised in relation to Iqony's operations. These include the opaque pricing policy regarding the cost share of the added mine gas, irregular and significantly delayed billing practices with excessively high or low advance payments, slow network expansion, and inadequate communication with customers, both in publishing new price lists and in customer service.
At the event, representatives from Iqony will address these points of criticism, providing a platform for dialogue and transparency. They will discuss the applied pricing formula, the integrated technical and operational aspects of district heating networks, including the use of renewable and waste heat sources, and the length and capacity of the existing network serving over 14,000 customers.
Moreover, Iqony’s strategic vision following the acquisition of Uniper Wärme GmbH will be introduced, emphasizing the continuity and enhancement of climate-friendly heat supply. The discussion will also cover sustainability and decarbonization efforts, such as the use of heat from mine gas, electric boilers, and decentralized CHP plants, supporting Germany’s energy transition and climate goals.
Lastly, the event will touch upon future innovations and challenges in district heating, potentially including discussions on further renewable integration, technological innovations in heat networks, and regulatory frameworks. This event fits within a broader context of ongoing energy transitions in Germany, reflecting how organizations like Iqony are managing the shift from fossil-based to more renewable and efficient heat systems, while maintaining service quality and addressing public concerns.
Attendees are encouraged to participate in the discussion, ensuring a collaborative approach to addressing these critical issues and fostering a sustainable and reliable district heating service for all.
- Iqony's strategic vision, focusing on climate-friendly heat supply and sustainability, will be discussed during the event, including the use of mine gas and electric boilers for heat, decentralized CHP plants, and Germany's energy transition and climate goals.
- The public information event will provide a forum for dialogue and transparency, as representatives from Iqony address criticisms related to the company's pricing policy, billing practices, network expansion, communication with customers, and the use of renewable and waste heat sources in district heating networks.
- As the district heating industry continues to undergo significant changes, the event will also feature discussions on future innovations and challenges, such as further renewable integration, technological advances in heat networks, and regulatory frameworks that will shape the landscape of home-and-garden and lifestyle choices in a more sustainable, finance-friendly, and energy-efficient manner.
