Couple has to wait another 1.5 years for their home to be connected to power grid
A few weeks ago, Mariska (62) and Eric van Kessel (65) moved into their new, sustainably built home in Wamel, Gelderland, after years of planning and decades of waiting for the construction permits. The only problem is that their dream home has not been connected to the power grid. And only after moving in did the grid operator Liander inform them that it would take until at least July 2027 before their home has electricity, RTL Nieuws reports.
“You could easily call it camping,” Mariska said about how they’re living in their dream home at the moment. “But without the comforts.”
They’re temporarily using some electricity from their neighbors, but that’s only enough to have a light on and one small hot plate going, and it’s not a situation they can sustain for 18 months. “We cook rice, let it cool, and then prepare something else. A regular meal with potatoes, meat, and vegetables at once is not an option.” If you want to boil the kettle, you have to turn everything else off. They shower and do their laundry at their daughter’s home.
The house stands on the site of an old forge that was once part of Eric’s family estate. After almost 40 years of waiting, the couple finally received a construction permit for building a home on the site. “The house was built completely gas-free and energy-efficient, exactly as the government requires,” Mariska said. “With underfloor heating, solar panels, and a brand-new meter box.”
They applied for a power connection in August. It was approved, and the connection was scheduled for the end of March 2026. Through their contractor, the installation date was brought forward to mid-February. “That was perfect. We’d move in, and everything would be taken care of,” Mariska said.
The couple moved in in January, and soon discovered that no progress had been made with their power connection. After multiple phone calls, Liander informed them that they will have to wait until July 2027. “They never said it was conditional. Never. And suddenly you hear: wait a year and a half,” Mariska said.
Grid operator Liander told RTL Nieuws that they are aware of the situation in Wamel. According to Liander, the electricity grid needs to be expanded before the home can be connected, and that will take time. The connection cannot be realized for another year and a half at the earliest, the grid operator said.
Mariska finds it incomprehensible that the municipality issued them a construction permit without assessing whether basic utilities can actually be provided. The couple doesn’t know where to turn and has contacted the mayor of their municipality, West Maas en Waal, with a request for assistance. So far, they’ve had no response. "Building permits are being issued. Shouldn't there also be a duty of care towards the residents?" Mariska asked.
Grid operator Liander told RTL Nieuws that it understands the Van Kessel family’s frustration. “As a grid operator, we want to connect customers as quickly as possible. This is becoming increasingly difficult because the electricity grid is increasingly full and needs to be expanded first. As a result, households, as well as business customers, have to wait longer for a new or stronger connection. Sometimes, as long as one to three years, or even longer,” the grid operator said.
RTL also asked the municipality of West Maas en Waal for a response. The municipality said it found the family’s situation difficult, but could not provide a response today.
