Metrics and targets: access to the grid

Our policy and measures aim to provide as many customers as possible with a connection or upgrade as quickly as possible – or at least within the time frame set by the ACM – ensuring we fulfil our legal responsibilities.^{(MDR-T ESRS 2 para 80(a))} Unfortunately, we do not always succeed with all connections or upgrades. 

Connection timelines for low-volume customers

In 2024, we set a target to complete standard connections (SC) within the ACM deadline in 65% of cases. We achieved this for 68% of customers. From January 2025, our KPI for low-volume customers (LV) will be adjusted to ‘Satisfaction with execution date low volume customers’. Our target for this KPI will also be 65% in 2025.^{(MDR-T ESRS 2 para 80(b)(c))} This means that we aim to complete the connection for 65% of LV connections to the customer’s satisfaction. 

The grid code for connection conditions for low-volume consumers adopted in June 2023 was overturned by the CBb in September 2024. This decision followed an appeal by grid operators because the grid code did not account for network congestion. As a result, it is currently unclear which connection timelines will apply to low-volume consumers. The ACM will have to adopt a new code in the near future. The impact on our 2025 targets is yet to be determined. 

Connection timelines for high-volume consumers

From January 2025, a KPI will apply to high-volume (HV) customers to measure the timeliness of completing HV connections relative to the customer’s desired date. In 2025, we will mainly complete connections that fall under the old legislation on connection timelines, and the definition of the KPI for 2025 has been adjusted accordingly.

From 2025, the target HV KPI is 65%.^{(MDR-T ESRS 2 para 80(b)(c))} This means that we aim to connect 65% of customers according to their desired date. The targets have been designed to connect as many customers as possible on time, respond to customers who deliberately wish to be connected later than the legal deadline and prioritise the best use of available implementation capacity.

Large consumers in congested areas faced transmission capacity waiting lists during 2024. Currently, 4,845 high-volume customers are on the waiting list for consumption and 4,181 for electricity feed-in. This represents a total requested capacity of 6,003 MW, of which 3,650 MW is consumption capacity and 2,353 MW is the capacity resulting from electricity feed-in. There are a total of 8,545 individual applications on the waiting list. This is an increase of 3,358 customers and 2,279 MW capacity compared to 2023. Despite the growth in the waiting list, we were able to help 49 customers on the waiting list for electricity feed-in by releasing transmission capacity. In addition to an offer of transmission capacity without conditions, the larger customers on the waiting list (mostly > 1 MW) were approached for an offer of capacity with conditions through other contracts. In 2024, we completed contracts with 99 customers for 93.9 MW of capacity through Capacity Restriction Contracts, Bid Obligation Contracts, Blokstroom and ZonBalans.

After social prioritisation, we received 503 priority requests in 2024. Of these, 207 were congestion relief requests and 296 were in the security and basic needs category. From the safety and basic needs category, 163 customers were prioritised on the waiting list. These included primary schools, water authorities and police stations. None of these priority customers actually received capacity in 2024.

Transparency towards customers

In 2024, we considered how to inform high-volume customers on the waiting list better about when it will be their turn.^{(ESRS 2 MDR-T 80(a)} Capacity maps provide insight, but customers cannot always entirely rely on our planning. That is why, starting in 2025, we will introduce a new KPI: Adherence to plan. This KPI will measure how effectively we follow through on our investment plan for grid expansion. Our goal is to achieve 80% plan stability by 2025.

Grid expansion

Expanding our grid is a key measure to address grid congestion.^{(MDR-T para 80(a))} We measure this expansion, among other things, by the technical realised grid capacity.^{(ESRS 2 para 79(a))} This consists of newly installed high/medium-voltage transformers, regardless of whether TenneT connected them. We do not deduct the replacement of old transformers from this metric^{(ESRS 2 MDR-M para 77(a)(c)(d))}. Enexis set a target to add at least 2,000 MVA of technical grid capacity by 2024 and at least 1,200 MVA by 2025.^{(MDR-T ESRS 2 para 80I(b)(e))} From 2026, this target is set at 1,000 MVA.^{(MDR-T ESRS 2 para 80I(b)(e))} The goals for 2024 and 2025 are set based on the planned expansions of HS/MS stations in those years. The goal for 2026 is determined based on the 5-year strategy for 2022-2026, which was established in 2022. By the end of 2024, we had reinforced nearly all of our substations and needed new sites to build on. Finding these new sites takes time and delays our grid expansion capacity. Unfortunately, this means our expansion targets for 2025 and 2026 are lower than in 2024. 

In 2024, we built 1,920 MVA of grid capacity. The technical realised grid capacity was close to our target of 2,000 MVA. Enexis depends partly on the preparatory work required from TenneT to plan the work. Enexis and TenneT coordinate their schedules as closely as possible. However, mutual dependencies may still cause delays in the realisation of grid capacity over time. 

Making more efficient use of the grid

We monitor how efficiently the grid is used with the KPI ‘Created grid capacity by Flex’. Realisation occurs, among other things, through the conclusion of Flex contracts with restrictive conditions and the use of our grid's reserve capacity. Reserve capacity is utilised by using the ‘escape lane’ of the grid (i.e. the outage reserve) and by loading our assets more heavily than prescribed. By utilising the grid more intensively, we aim to extract an additional 500 MW of capacity from the existing grid. The 2024 and 2025 targets are established based on an estimate of the yet-to-be-developed flex capacity per HS/MS station.^{(ESRS 2 MDR-M para 77(a)(c)(d) (ESRS 2 MDR-T para 79(b))}

By 2024, we achieved an additional 498 MW through grid usage and Flex.^{(ESRS 2 MDR-T para 79(c))} Although customers are increasingly aware that they can still obtain transmission capacity or contribute to resolving grid congestion using Flex contracts, we have narrowly missed our target of > 500 MW for 2024. On the one hand, this is due to the limited grid capacity that has become available to customers under these conditions. On the other hand, customers do not want to sign up because the flexible contracts do not sufficiently match their needs and capabilities.

All grid access targets and metrics are annual targets.^{(MDR-T ESRS 2 para 80(e))} No baseline or base year applies.^{(MDR-T ESRS 2 para 80(d))} The affected stakeholders are not involved in setting or monitoring targets or identifying improvements.^{(MDR-T ESRS 2 para 80(h); ESRS S4 41(a)(b)(c))}

Realistic expectations

Despite all the measures and targets to connect customers on time, expand the grid as quickly as possible and use grid capacity as efficiently as possible, this will not help high-volume customers on the waiting list in the short term. They will experience the negative impact of grid congestion in the coming years. If the organic growth of our low-volume and high-volume customers is greater than expected, and they do not take steps to reduce their consumption or become more flexible, this could affect customers on the waiting list. Even if our grid investments are delivered as planned, they may not be sufficient to provide all customers on the waiting list with the transmission capacity they require. We are also heavily dependent on TenneT to release transmission capacity. In addition to using flexible solutions and adjusting their electricity consumption, customers will need to consider the energy mix they use in the short term, the timing of their move to electrification and the most appropriate energy mix in the longer term.