In a statement on Thursday (28 February), E.ON said it "proposes to commit to sell its electricity transmission system network to an operator which would have no interest in the electricity generation and/or supply businesses".
The surprise offer would effectively 'unbundle' E.ON's electricity generation and transmission activities, a move which the Commission has long supported as a necessary step to complete the liberalisation of Europe's energy sector.
"These proposals, if adopted, would structurally change the electricity sector in Germany and could spur competition in the sector to the benefit of domestic and industrial customers," E.ON said.
The timing of the announcement also came at a crucial moment, just hours before EU energy ministers were to meet in Brussels for a discussion on energy, which included the Commission's controversial 'unbundling' proposals.
E.ON had until now been a staunch opponent to the Commission's plans for full 'ownership unbundling' and the announcement apparently took the German government by surprise.
Earlier this month, Germany, France and six other EU member states outlined proposals for a 'third option' on energy liberalisation in a move aimed at preventing the breakup of vertically-integrated energy firms such as E.ON and EDF of France (EurActiv 1/02/08).
The ministerial meeting ended with no agreement other than a shared determination to come to a political agreement at the next meeting, on 6 June.
