A wide range of developments is affecting our work. We monitor them closely so we anticipate changes in good time and respond effectively. Below, we summarise the key developments from the first half of 2026.
The new social prioritisation framework
The new framework introduced by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) determines the order in which customers in congestion areas are allocated transmission capacity as it becomes available. Priority is based on the societal function of the connection rather than its size. Organisations with a significant societal function get prioritisation through a request to their grid operator. Since 1 July, no transmission capacity has been reserved for small consumers, such as households and small businesses. As a result, in congestion areas, all new applications – from both small and high-volume consumers – are placed on a waiting list. As capacity becomes available, it is allocated according to the ACM’s social prioritisation framework and the order of the waiting list. Grid operators are gradually releasing capacity previously reserved for small consumers to applicants on the waiting list. Until 1 January 2027, applications with social priority will be processed first. Any remaining capacity will then be allocated to applicants without social priority. Enexis announced in April the seven areas where no additional capacity will be made available for the time being.
Geopolitical developments
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 brought the Netherlands’ dependence on other countries for its energy supply sharply into focus. The war in the Middle East has once again highlighted this reality. In addition to energy availability, affordability is also coming under increasing pressure as scarcity grows. This further underlines the urgency of reducing the Netherlands’ dependence on other countries and accelerating the energy transition towards a future-proof energy system.
At the same time, due to rising geopolitical tensions, the threat of cyberattacks and potential physical disruptions remains consistently high. This increases the risk of interruptions to the energy supply and to the services we provide to our customers and society. Strengthening Enexis' physical and digital resilience is therefore essential, and we continue to invest heavily in this area.
Grid-conscious housing development
The Netherlands faces the major challenge of building hundreds of thousands of new homes. In several areas, grid congestion is already delaying housing development, and this could become an issue in many more locations in the years ahead. Grid operators see several opportunities to enable more homes to be built despite grid congestion. Grid-conscious housing developments and a greater focus on district heating networks can create additional capacity on the electricity grid for new homes and businesses. Together with the other grid operators, for example, we press on the government to standardise the peak electricity demand of buildings through the Environment Buildings Decree and for the early reservation of capacity for energy infrastructure. In areas with a high housing density and sufficient sustainable energy sources, district heating networks provide an attractive solution for heating new-build homes. They also make it possible to build more homes within the same available capacity on the electricity grid.
Affordability of district heating networks
Keeping district heating networks affordable is essential. At the same time, the regulatory framework for district heating remains under development. In its letter to Parliament of 6 July, the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the acquisition of existing district heating companies could take various forms. In addition to the National Heat Investor (NDW), a subsidiary of the State Energy Company of the Netherlands (EBN), this could involve local authorities, pension funds and infrastructure companies. Developing affordable district heating networks requires substantial investment and involves significant risks. Enexis is exploring what role it can play that is appropriate, responsible and feasible. In doing so, we pay particular attention to public interests, governance, risk management and affordability. Enexis believes it is important that the government puts the right framework conditions in place. These include making district heating networks affordable in neighbourhoods where they are genuinely the best solution, introducing simple and transparent subsidy schemes, and establishing a fully-fledged guarantee fund to reduce the financial risks for public heating companies.