01/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission closed the investigation procedure relating to a German law from 1991 on the supply of the electricity network following the abrogation of this law. The Commission investigation had been opened in 1999 following the introduction of an electricity tax that had as effect, due to the calculation mechanism foreseen in the 1991 law, to significantly increase the amounts of aid paid for the supply of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. The permanent nature of this payment for network supply would have constitutes an operating aid. The law having been abrogated in 12 April 2000, no aid was paid.