Compared to 2023, operating expenses increased by € 92 million. Employee benefit expenses for own personnel increased strongly in the first half of 2024. On the one hand, this was attributable to a Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) wage increase of at least 7% as of 1 January 2024 and a new salary table for technical personnel that came into effect mid-2023. In addition, there was a strong increase in the number of employees due to the growing work package. The costs for external personnel increased by € 16 million due to an increase in FTEs and indexation of the rates. The increase in employee benefit expenses was partially offset by an increase in capitalised costs of own production by € 15 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 € 237 million in the first half of 2024, which amounts to an increase of € 7 million compared to the first half of 2023. This increase is mainly attributable to higher investments in the electricity grid.
The cost of subcontracted work, materials, and other external expenses increased by € 22 million to € 152 million, mainly due to indexation and higher operating expenses in connection with the work package and higher IT expenses.