Prozessleitfaden — MaBiS

MaBiS: Wie die Bilanzkreisabrechnung funktioniert

MaBiS (Marktregeln für die Durchführung der Bilanzkreisabrechnung Strom) definiert, wie Stromerzeugung und -verbrauch zwischen Bilanzkreisen abgerechnet werden.

Balance group (Bilanzkreis)BKVÜNB / TSOMSCONS15-min intervalsAusgleichsenergie

Was ist MaBiS?

The settlement process for Germany's electricity balance

MaBiS stands for Marktprozesse zur Bilanzierung Strom. It defines how electricity is balanced across the German grid — specifically, how the difference between forecasted and actual consumption is measured and charged. Think of it as the "accounting" layer on top of the physical grid.

Balance Groups (Bilanzkreise)

Every generator and consumer is part of a balance group. A BKV (balance group manager, usually a large supplier) is legally responsible for ensuring feed-in and offtake are equal in their group.

15-Minute Resolution

Settlement happens in 15-minute blocks (called Viertelstunden). That is 96 intervals per day, 35,040 per year. Each interval has its own imbalance and its own price.

4 German TSOs

Germany has four transmission system operators: 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT, and TransnetBW. Each manages their own control area but coordinates at the national level.

Imbalance Penalties Can Be Huge

During grid stress, balancing energy prices can reach €500–€2000/MWh. A BKV that consistently under-forecasts can face six-figure monthly bills just in imbalance charges.

MSCONS Carries the Data

Meter readings flow from MSB → NB → ÜNB via MSCONS messages. The TSO aggregates all readings in a control area to compute the actual balance. Inaccurate MSCONS data = wrong settlement.

Monthly Settlement Cycle

While real-time balancing happens continuously, the official financial settlement is monthly. The ÜNB sends INVOIC to each BKV for their monthly balancing energy position.

Der Abrechnungsprozess

Walk through the full MaBiS cycle: registration, forecasting, real delivery, metering, imbalance calculation, and payment.

MaBiS Settlement Cycle (7 steps)

Klicken Sie auf einen Schritt oder drücken Sie Abspielen

Interactive

Forecast vs Reality

A sample 90-minute window. Every red bar above forecast is energy the TSO had to source. The BKV pays for every MW difference.

Forecast vs Actual (6 × 15-min slots, MW)

12:00

12:15

-4

12:30

12:45

-3

13:00

13:15

-4

Forecast (MW)Actual (MW)Red = over-consumption, Green = under-consumption

Why this matters for MSBs

MSB meter data feeds directly into this settlement. Late or inaccurate MSCONS messages corrupt the settlement for the whole supply chain. Every MSB who misses a deadline delays billing for the NB, LF, and ultimately the BKV.

Wie leitnetz hilft

Accurate Data, On Time, Every Time

MSCONS Ingestion & Dispatch

leitnetz handles the complete MSCONS pipeline: reading collection, validation, dispatch to NB, and tracking delivery confirmations.

Settlement Data Traceability

Every MSCONS message is stored with its case ID and correlation ID. If settlement disputes arise, the full audit trail is immediately available.

Balance Group Assignment

Market location (MaLo) to balance group mapping is tracked in leitnetz so MSCONS data flows to the correct ÜNB reporting path.

Vorheriger Leitfaden

WiM

Meter operator switching processes

Nächster Leitfaden

Bilanzierung

Energy balancing and balance groups