Electricity grids are crucial for the energy transition. Despite its importance for renewable energy, the literature on grid ownership at the local level in Germany lacks up-to-date knowledge. Existing research does not state the extent to which municipalities own distribution system operators (DSOs). Based on a novel dataset on grid operators in 10,800 German municipalities, this paper can provide for the first time an overview of the current ownership of electricity distribution companies. Although the electricity infrastructure is decentralised, ownership remains centralised in the hands of Germany's leading energy companies and concentrated in affluent population centres.