Enexis’ core task is to provide everyone with energy. The demand for electricity has risen sharply in recent years. Electric vehicles such as buses and trucks are gaining popularity; more households are opting for electric cooking and heat pumps; and factories are switching to electric production processes. In addition, the number of solar and wind parks is growing rapidly, and homeowners and businesses are installing solar panels on their roofs. Ambitious climate plans and rising energy prices are accelerating this process.
Unfortunately, (timely) access to the grid is no longer a given. We are faced with a saturated grid and insufficient labour capacity. The result is grid congestion, waiting lists and long lead times. In our service area, this is affecting households, small business customers (low-volume consumers) and large business customers (high-volume consumers).(ESRS S4 para 10 en 10a)Communication with customers about connection times, grid congestion and waiting lists is becoming increasingly important.
In addition, Enexis identifies impacts related to grid reliability and energy affordability. These have also come under pressure due to the substantial increase in demand, while the availability of labour and materials is not improving, and prices are rising.
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Access to the grid |
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Our consumers and end users
Enexis has identified two main groups of affected stakeholders in the downstream value chain: (SBM-3 ESRS S4 10(a))
Households and small business customers, or low-volume consumers with electricity connections up to and including 3x80 amperes and/or gas connections up to and including 40 m3/h.
Large business customers or high-volume consumers with electricity connections greater than 3x80 amperes and/or gas connections greater than 40 m3/h.
The above groups essentially represent all customers in Enexis’ service area. All these customers are entitled to access to energy(Elektriciteitswet 1998, para 23 (1)) and a reliable grid. Enexis is legally obliged to ensure the reliability of the grid(Elektriciteitswet 1998, artikel 16 (1b). We are also obliged to provide a connection to anyone who requests one(Elektriciteitswet 1998, artikel 23 (1)) within the time limits set by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
Although these groups include all our customers (customers with an electricity and/or gas connection), our grid access impacts are mainly on the electricity grid. Our impacts on reliability and affordability apply to both the electricity and gas grid.
Our impact: access to the grid
Impact on high-volume consumers: grid congestion, waiting lists and connection timelines
Our customers’ demand for and supply of electricity has grown immensely due to the energy transition. Businesses and households want to switch more quickly to renewable energy. As a result of the increased demand and supply of electricity, the grid is ‘saturated’ in many places; we call this grid congestion. In congested areas, large business customers seeking (additional) transmission capacity are placed on a waiting list. We expect such waiting lists to persist in the coming years. This can prevent companies from starting up, expanding or electrifying their operations. Plans for renewable energy generation are also being delayed. We are aware that this is having a significant impact on businesses and society.
Most of our service area is experiencing grid congestion, and the impact on our customers is widespread.(ESRS S4 para 10b)
The situation on the electricity grid has led grid operators to call for more realistic connection timelines for high-volume consumers. In 2024, large electricity connections were still subject to a maximum connection period of 18 weeks based on the 1998 Electricity Act. Following the ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2021, the ACM started a process to establish reasonable connection timelines. Grid operators played an active role in this, alongside market parties representing business customers. In April 2024, the ACM published an amendment to the code for high-volume consumer connection timelines. This new code has been in force since 1 January 2025 and is based on predictable timelines for the customer and realistic timelines for the grid operator. For high-volume consumers, the timelines are 26 weeks, 52 weeks or project-specific timelines, depending on the complexity of the project, with additional weeks for regional dynamic waiting times. There is also an exception for congested areas. Here, the connection timelines are linked to the amount of time needed to resolve the congestion.
Impact on high-volume consumers: options for action
Customers and stakeholders are seeking clarity to achieve their own goals. However, we cannot always provide the transparency they demand. The planning and implementation of grid investments are uncertain due, among other things, to long lead times and dependence on the national grid operator. This creates uncertainty for our high-volume customers. They do not know where they stand, when they will receive transmission capacity or what other solutions might be available. This uncertainty can cause companies to postpone or cancel investments, jeopardising the sustainability of society, economic growth and the energy transition.
Impact on low-volume consumers: connection timelines and waiting time
Households are also increasingly suffering from the effects of the congested power grid. Their demand for electricity is growing rapidly, as is electricity feed-in due to their use of solar panels. As a result, pressure on the electricity grid in residential areas is rising sharply, and grid reinforcement or expansion is increasingly required before a household can get the new or heavier connection it wants. The increased volume of work, combined with limited labour availability, also means that households sometimes have to wait longer for a connection or upgrade.
Until the summer of 2024, small electricity connections were subject to a maximum connection period of 12, 18 or 52 weeks, depending on the specifics of the application. In June 2024, these periods were abolished by the Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal. Therefore, it is currently unclear what the applicable connection period is for low-volume consumers.
Our impact: reliable energy grid
Grid congestion can also lead to a potential increase in electricity supply interruptions, which has a negative impact on our customers. These energy supply interruptions can have a significant impact on societal security. (ESRS 2 para 48(a)(c-i)) Despite these challenges, Enexis ensures the reliability of the grid for more than three million customers. Our stable electricity supply ensures that households and businesses can continue to use essential services without disruption. This contributes to people’s quality of life and sustains economic activity. Moreover, confidence in our infrastructure provides a sense of security in daily life. (ESRS S4 para 10c) A reliable grid has a broad and positive impact on our customers and society. In contrast, negative impacts related to reliability are rare and isolated.(ESRS S4 para 10(b)
Translating our impacts into strategy
To meet growing customer demand and maintain the reliability of our grid, Enexis focuses on implementing the energy transition. This results in the following key strategic objectives: we ensure that everyone has access to energy at all times and customers know what to expect from us.(ESRS S4 para 8) We are working towards an energy infrastructure that is accessible and safe for all, while maintaining a high level of supply security. We also provide clear, predictable and efficient support to customers and market participants.
For a more detailed explanation of our strategy and business model, see the 'Strategy chapter'. (ESRS S4 SBM-2 par. 8)