Zweckverband Oberschwäbische Elektrizitätswerke

The Zweckverband Oberschwäbische Elektrizitätswerke (OEW) is a public-law special-purpose association (Zweckverband) of municipalities and districts in southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, headquartered in Ravensburg. It was founded on 20 December 1909 as the Bezirksverband Oberschwäbische Elektrizitätswerke by the Amtskörperschaften (district bodies) of Tettnang, Ravensburg and Wangen, making it the first non-profit enterprise in Württemberg jointly established by several municipalities. Over the following decades it grew into the largest municipal overland utility in Württemberg, building hydroelectric plants on the Iller and participating in international projects such as the Vorarlberger Illwerke. After the Second World War and the 1973 district reform, the OEW was reorganised as a Zweckverband whose members are now nine districts: Alb-Donau-Kreis, Biberach, Bodenseekreis, Freudenstadt, Ravensburg, Reutlingen, Rottweil, Sigmaringen and Zollernalbkreis. Its principal asset is a 46.75% stake (as of June 2022) in EnBW, one of Germany's largest energy utilities, held alongside the state of Baden-Württemberg's Neckarpri-Beteiligungsgesellschaft, which holds an equal share. Together these two major shareholders shape EnBW's corporate strategy. Beyond its EnBW holding, OEW holds interests in Erdgas Südwest (21%), NetCom BW (25.1%), EnBW Windpark Buchholz III (24.95%), EnBW Onshore Portfolio GmbH (16.66%), the Projekt Nachhaltige Stadt Leutkirch im Allgäu (20%) and VNG AG (4.21%). It also operates charging stations in its association area. The association is active in arts and culture funding: since 1952 it has provided funds to its member districts, and its art collection now comprises over 800 works and groups of works spanning the 12th century to the present. It renewed the Oberschwäbischer Kunstpreis in 1976 and supports the Gesellschaft Oberschwaben für Geschichte und Kultur and the Gedenkstättenverbund Gäu-Neckar-Alb. OEW is not a listed company; it is a statutory body owned by its member districts. Its website provides information on its purpose, structure, participations, charging stations, press service, culture funding and history, including a chronology and lists of its chairs and managing directors.

The OEW was founded on 20 December 1909 in the Konzerthaus of Ravensburg as the Bezirksverband Oberschwäbische Elektrizitätswerke by the Amtskörperschaften (district bodies) of Tettnang, Ravensburg and Wangen. It was the first non-profit enterprise in Württemberg jointly founded by several municipalities and grew into the largest municipal overland utility in Württemberg. By 1 May 1910 further municipalities had joined: Biberach, Blaubeuren, Ehingen, Laupheim, Leutkirch, Riedlingen, Saulgau, Münsingen and Waldsee, followed by the Prussian districts of Gammertingen, Hechingen and Sigmaringen and, in 1912, the Gemeindeverband Elektrizitätsversorgung für die Ulmer Alb-Gemeinden. Reutlingen joined in 1920 and Balingen in 1921. Despite the difficulties of the First World War, the electrification of municipalities with more than 250 inhabitants was essentially completed by the end of 1918. In 1919 OEW began building three run-of-river hydroelectric plants on the Iller (Illerkraftwerke), which were commissioned between 1923 and 1927; they remain among the largest in Baden-Württemberg and deliver up to 48 MW. In 1922 OEW, the state of Vorarlberg and Bündner Kraftwerke AG in Chur agreed by state treaty to develop and use the Lünersee and the upper Ill. In 1924 the Vorarlberger Illwerke GmbH (VIW, from 1927 AG) was founded, in which OEW held 42.5%. This marked the beginning of international cooperation across the Reich border. OEW sought to build a unified Württemberg state electricity supply. In 1931 it merged with the Bezirksverband Heimbachkraftwerk Freudenstadt, whose four districts were Freudenstadt, Horb, Oberndorf and Sulz. From 1931 OEW thus included 19 Württemberg district associations; Reutlingen and Urach had joined in 1920, Balingen in 1921, and Reutlingen (which had left in the meantime) in 1924. The two Hohenzollern districts of Sigmaringen and Hechingen, formed in 1925, and 18 municipalities of the Oberamt Ulm were contractually affiliated. After Adolf Hitler's seizure of power, the Reich government pushed for consolidation of the many individual energy companies. Under this pressure, on 1 April 1939 OEW merged with Elektrizitäts-Versorgung Württemberg to form Energie-Versorgung Schwaben AG (EVS). OEW thereafter was the main shareholder of EVS with 47.79%. The 1973 district reform, which absorbed the five OEW districts of Ehingen, Horb, Münsingen, Saulgau and Wangen into other districts, necessitated a change in the association. The Zweckverband now comprises the districts of Alb-Donau-Kreis, Biberach, Bodenseekreis, Freudenstadt, Ravensburg, Reutlingen, Rottweil, Sigmaringen and Zollernalbkreis. In 1997 Energie-Versorgung Schwaben and Badenwerk AG merged to form EnBW AG. From 2000 to 2010 OEW (45.01%) and the French Électricité de France (45.01%) were the main shareholders; under an agreement concluded in May 2000 between OEW and EDF (valid until the end of 2011), EnBW was managed on a parity basis. In December 2010 the state of Baden-Württemberg surprisingly bought EDF's stake through its Neckarpri-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH (see also the EnBW affair). As of June 2022 OEW held 46.75% of EnBW, alongside the state's equal 46.75%. Beyond EnBW, OEW holds 21% of Erdgas Südwest (ESW), the legal successor of EVS-Gasversorgung Süd GmbH (EGVS); 25.1% of NetCom BW; 24.95% of EnBW Windpark Buchholz III; 16.66% of EnBW Onshore Portfolio GmbH; 20.00% of the Projekt Nachhaltige Stadt Leutkirch im Allgäu; and 4.21% of VNG AG. It also formerly held shares in the now-insolvent AGIV Real Estate AG (last 14.2%). OEW has been active in arts and culture funding beyond the energy sector. Since 1952 it has provided funds to its member districts for these purposes. Today its art collection comprises over 800 works and groups of works from the 12th century to the present. In 1976 it renewed the Oberschwäbischer Kunstpreis, originally donated in 1951 by the four districts of Biberach, Ravensburg, Saulgau and Wangen. It also supports the Gesellschaft Oberschwaben für Geschichte und Kultur (founded 1996) and the Gedenkstättenverbund Gäu-Neckar-Alb. OEW increasingly acts as a buyer on the art market to bring 'lost sons and daughters of Oberschwaben' back from the art trade into the 'Oberschwäbisches Himmelreich'; acquisitions are presented as permanent loans in Oberschwaben museums.

• 2023

  Stefanie Bürkle becomes Verbandsvorsitzende.

• 2022

  As of June, OEW holds 46.75% of EnBW.

• 2010

  In December the state of Baden-Württemberg buys EDF's EnBW stake via Neckarpri-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH.

• 2000

  OEW and EDF each hold 45.01% of EnBW; parity management agreement concluded in May.

• 1997

  Energie-Versorgung Schwaben and Badenwerk AG merge to form EnBW AG.

• 1976

  OEW renews the Oberschwäbischer Kunstpreis.

• 1973

  District reform; OEW becomes a Zweckverband of nine districts.

• 1952

  OEW begins providing funds to member districts for arts and culture.

• 1939

  On 1 April OEW merges with Elektrizitäts-Versorgung Württemberg to form Energie-Versorgung Schwaben AG (EVS); OEW becomes main shareholder with 47.79%.

• 1931

  Merger with Bezirksverband Heimbachkraftwerk Freudenstadt; OEW now includes 19 Württemberg district associations.

• 1924

  Vorarlberger Illwerke GmbH founded; OEW holds 42.5%.

• 1923

  Illerkraftwerke begin operation (through 1927).

• 1922

  OEW, Vorarlberg and Bündner Kraftwerke AG agree to develop the Lünersee and upper Ill.

• 1921

  Balingen joins OEW.

• 1920

  Reutlingen joins OEW.

• 1919

  Construction begins on three run-of-river hydroelectric plants on the Iller.

• 1912

  Gemeindeverband Elektrizitätsversorgung für die Ulmer Alb-Gemeinden joins.

• 1910

  Further municipalities join by 1 May: Biberach, Blaubeuren, Ehingen, Laupheim, Leutkirch, Riedlingen, Saulgau, Münsingen and Waldsee.

• 1909

  Founded on 20 December in Ravensburg as Bezirksverband Oberschwäbische Elektrizitätswerke by Tettnang, Ravensburg and Wangen.

A municipal special-purpose association acting as a long-term co-owner of EnBW and a regional promoter of energy infrastructure and culture in Oberschwaben.

• Electricity distribution and supply (historical)

• Shareholding in EnBW AG (46.75%)

• Shareholding in Erdgas Südwest (21%)

• Shareholding in NetCom BW (25.1%)

• Charging stations in the association area

• Oberschwäbischer Kunstpreis

1. 1OEW Themencenteroew-energie.de
2. 2OEW Chronologieoew-energie.de
3. 3OEW-Vorsitzendeoew-energie.de
4. 4OEW Fachbeitraege zur Geschichteoew-energie.de
5. 5Zweckverband Oberschwäbische Elektrizitätswerkede.wikipedia.org
6. 6OEWwikidata.org