A new concept of Photovoltaic (PV) grid-parity is presented for three typical case studies in Europe by including the distribution-network limits and the fixed costs of the electricity bills. Real cases are described for residential/tertiary sector loads: the PV penetration results, achieved without investments in the distribution upgrading, are presented through the ratio of the admissible PV energy ratio which can be close to 30% of the total consumption for residential users and 45% for tertiary-users. The future approach of distribution limits certainly will increase the electricity bills which have been analysed here in the current situation: in Germany the fixed costs are negligible, whereas in Italy the common loads of apartment-blocks are charged by the cost of the available power. The grid-parity problem is analysed by the net present value which provides the cost effectiveness or not of the PV installation. The results are obtained by the interest rates of 3-6% in Germany and 4-10% in Italy. The grid-parity for dwelling houses and tertiary-sector users is reached in Germany and Central/Southern Italy; it is achieved in Germany for the users in apartment-blocks, while it is unrealistic to be reached in Italy with the current tariff situation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.