Feistritzwerke-STEWEAG GmbH

About Feistritzwerke

Feistritzwerke-STEWEAG GmbH was founded in 1905 by the municipality of Gleisdorf to supply electricity and today operates the second-largest electricity distribution network by area in Styria. The company plans, builds and operates electricity distribution and communication systems, runs a network of around 5,112 km of line length with over 63,000 metering points in a network area of 1,115 km² and supplies around 50,000 customers. In addition, the company operates several of its own hydropower plants, including the Stubenbergklamm power plant, the Gliederwehr power plant on the Raab river, and the run-of-river power plants St. Johann, Edelsee and Neudörfl. Since 2018, Feistritzwerke has been engaged in large-scale broadband expansion and offers pure fiber-optic internet (FTTH) as an open-access network. Further services include the planning, installation and operation of LED lighting systems for municipalities and sports facility operators as well as support for energy communities (GEA, EEG, BEG). Since 2011, the company no longer acts as an electricity supplier, but concentrates on its role as a distribution network operator with services relating to grid connection, smart meters and cable information.

Site

Gleisdorf

Processes

Electricity network operation (distribution network), Fiber-optic internet (broadband expansion, open-access network), Operation of hydropower plants (green electricity generation), Planning, installation and operation of lighting systems (street, square, building and, Cable information, Energy communities (GEA, EEG, BEG) support, Electricity grid connection, Survey and planning of LED lighting

Materials

Electricity distribution network, Fiber optics (FTTH), Hydropower, LED lighting technology

Certificates

Regulated by E-Control Austria, Certifications demonstrable

Founded

1905

Industries

Energy supply (electricity distribution network), Telecommunications / broadband internet, Renewable energies (hydropower, photovoltaics), Municipalities / public sector (lighting systems)

1. 01

   Network planning

2. 02

   Grid connection / cable construction

3. 03

   Network operation and maintenance

4. 04

   Metering (smart meters)

5. 05

   Services: cable information, energy communities

6. 06

   Operation of own hydropower plants

7. 07

   Fiber-optic expansion and operation

Services & Networks

Locations

Gleisdorf

AT

Headquarters, customer center, network operations

Materials

Electricity network, fiber optics, hydropower

Dechantskirchen

AT

Branch office

Stubenbergklamm

AT

Hydropower plant with visitor power plant museum

• 2 Francis turbines
• Residual water screw

St. Johann

AT

Run-of-river power plant

• Kaplan turbine

Edelsee

AT

Run-of-river power plant

• Kaplan turbine

Neudörfl

AT

Run-of-river power plant

• Kaplan tube turbine

Gliederwehr

AT

Hydropower plant on the Raab

• Vertical-axis Kaplan turbine

Service Areas

Inside the production

Quality & Regulation

As a regulated distribution network operator, Feistritzwerke is subject to supervision by E-Control Austria and RTR GmbH. Grid connections and electrical installations are inspected and documented in accordance with the network operator's implementation guidelines.

History

1. 1905

   Foundation of Feistritzwerke by the municipality of Gleisdorf; first power plant on the Feistritz near Stubenberg, first power line to Gleisdorf

2. 1951

   Construction of the Gliederwehr power plant by Anton Glieder

3. 1957

   Construction of the St. Johann power plant (comprehensively renovated in 1997, fish passage aid in 2015)

4. 1963

   Construction of the Edelsee power plant (comprehensively renovated in 1989)

5. 1980

   Construction of the Neudörfl power plant

6. 2000

   Strategic stake of Energie Steiermark with 27%; City of Gleisdorf holds 73% via Stadtwerke Gleisdorf GmbH

7. 2011

   Focus on the role as distribution network operator; no longer an electricity supplier

8. 2015

   Complete renewal of the Stubenbergklamm power plant (2 Francis turbines, residual water screw); the old power station building accessible as a visitor power plant museum

9. 2018

   Start of engagement in fiber-optic network expansion

10. 2019

    Start of replacing analog electricity meters with smart meters

11. 2022

    Takeover and revitalization of the Gliederwehr power plant; commissioning in September 2022 on the Raab

12. 2025

    Anniversary week: 120 years of Feistritzwerke, 25 years of Stadtwerke Gleisdorf