The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has officially set the tariffs for distribution system operators and the national transmission system operator, TenneT, for the year 2026. As previously announced, the costs for an average household are expected to rise by approximately 25 euros annually.

Specifically, households and businesses connected to the distribution systems for natural gas and electricity will see a 3.38 percent increase in their transport costs. In contrast, large businesses directly connected to TenneT's high-voltage grid will benefit from a decrease in costs, estimated at around 10 to 12 percent. This reduction is attributed to increased grid usage, which allows for the distribution of allowed revenues over a larger volume.

As the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable electricity sources accelerates, system operators are required to invest significantly in upgrading their infrastructure. Consequently, ACM has decided to follow TenneT's proposal to exclude auction and congestion revenues from the 2026 tariffs, which could otherwise help mitigate future increases.

ACM's oversight ensures that system operators maintain sufficient revenues for necessary maintenance and investments while keeping tariffs fair and transparent. The principle guiding these tariffs is that grid users should only pay for the costs they generate, promoting equity among all users.