Businesses face electricity delays, as grid backlog widens to 22,600 pending requests

The Dutch consumer watchdog Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM) has ordered all power grid operators to submit improvement plans by February 6 to address a backlog of 22,600 electricity connections, including 14,000 for businesses seeking to consume power and 8,600 for those supplying it. Regulators warn progress is too slow, leaving thousands of companies without the electricity connections they need.

ACM found that grid operators are lagging in addressing the problem. “More speed is needed here,” the authority said. The watchdog has repeatedly urged measures that encourage more efficient network use, including flexible contracts that help businesses optimize electricity consumption. However, several operators reportedly lack sufficient insight into how their networks are being used, limiting the effectiveness of such measures.

The backlog has grown in recent months. According to caretaker Climate and Energy Minister Sophie Hermans (VVD), the waiting list for businesses seeking a connection to the overcrowded electricity grid rose from 12,000 to 14,000 in just a few months.

Hermans had previously hoped that businesses reducing consumption during peak periods could free up capacity for others, allowing better use of the existing grid while expansions and reinforcements are carried out. But she now admits the approach “is not yet sufficiently implemented in practice,” as grid operators struggle to convince large consumers to participate.

Netbeheer Nederland, the association representing grid operators, reported that about 14,000 parties are waiting for a connection to consume electricity, while another 8,600 applications are pending for connections to supply electricity to the network. “We also see that acceleration is needed,” said a spokesperson for the organization.

Operators are already using gas generators to produce electricity in areas with significant capacity constraints. Meanwhile, grid operators are assessing whether existing infrastructure can handle higher loads without compromising reliability.

Grid operators face additional challenges, including new work processes, IT system upgrades, and staffing shortages. “We are going to do everything possible to work on this,” the Netbeheer Nederland spokesperson said.