Compared to 2024, operating expenses increased by € 51 million. Employee benefit expenses for own personnel increased in the first half of 2025 by € 34 million. This is partly due to an increase in the number of employees and partly due to a 3% wage rise under the new Collective Labour Agreement, which took effect on 1 January 2025. The costs for external personnel increased by € 5 million due to an increase in FTEs. The increase in employee benefit expenses was partially offset by an increase in capitalised costs of own production by € 16 million. This increase is attributable to the employment of more personnel for both the work package and improvement projects.
Depreciation, amortisation and decommissioning amounted to € 254 million in the first half of 2025, representing an increase of € 17 million compared to the first half of 2024. This increase is mainly attributable to higher investments in the electricity grid.
The cost of subcontracted work, materials and other external expenses amounted to € 152 million, in line with last year.