With new rules for system operators, ACM stimulates the energy transition as well as investments for combating grid congestion 
                  

                
                                  






  







  



  
    
              
        
        
      
      
                        
          

Summary

ACM publishes a new method for setting the tariff revenues of system operators as well as for promoting investments in the congested grid.
Grid congestion hinders the energy transition, and it causes long waiting times for households and businesses.
ACM invites stakeholders to submit their opinions on the draft decisions, and will finalize the new method in 2026.


  

  

    
      
          

      

  


                

  
    
            

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) invites all stakeholders to submit their opinions on a new method for setting the tariff revenues of system operators. The new method stimulates investments that are necessary for solving the problems on the congested grid, and it helps accelerate the energy transition. At the same time, with the new method, ACM will be able to assess the costs and operations of system operators better.


Manon Leijten, Member of the Board of ACM, comments: “Over the next few years, system operators need to be firing on all cylinders in order to solve the problems on the congested grid. This calls for sufficient financial latitude for necessary investments as well as for innovations for better utilizing existing grids. At the same time, less and less natural gas is being consumed, yet the costs for maintenance and safety on the gas network remain. That is why it’s important that those costs are distributed fairly. Ultimately, households and businesses pay all costs via their network tariffs. With this new method, ACM ensures that system operators do their job as efficiently as possible and that tariffs don’t unnecessarily go up.”


The transition from fossil fuels to electricity generated from sustainable sources is important for achieving climate goals, and it makes the Netherlands less dependent on natural-gas imports from other countries. As a result, households and businesses will be better protected against sudden price increases, which may occur if the supply of natural gas is restricted due to geopolitical tensions or other disruptions. The transition is taking place so fast that, in many locations, the grid is at capacity, and many households and businesses need to wait a long time for new or upgraded connections. This results in high costs for society, which are estimated to be as high as 40 billion euros per year. In order to deal with the problems on the grid, system operators need to invest billions of euros in grid expansions over the next several years. With the new method, ACM offers more certainty that operators are able to recoup their costs of these investments. Since businesses and households are switching to sustainable energy sources, less and less natural gas is consumed, too, whereas system operators continue to invest in maintenance and safety on the natural-gas network. These costs need to be distributed over a smaller number of users, as a result of which the rates for natural-gas users go up.
Certainty for system operators


With the revised regulatory method, ACM wishes to remove barriers to investments. With the new method, ACM sets the revenues of system operators on the basis of their actual, efficient costs. This means that system operators estimate their costs in advance, after which ACM sets the tariffs on the basis of that estimate. Any differences between the estimated and actual costs will be settled at a later time. In this way, system operators have the certainty that they are able to recoup their costs, without households and businesses having to pay unnecessary costs.


Stricter oversight and more transparency


At the same time, ACM introduces stricter oversight over the costs and performances of system operators. ACM will perform more-targeted checks on the efficiency of incurred costs. Unnecessary costs cannot be incorporated into the tariffs. In addition, ACM expects more transparency from system operators about their costs, efficiency, and the causes behind tariff fluctuations. All of this will ensure that households and businesses only pay for necessary costs, while the energy transition is accelerated.
2027 tariffs to be set in accordance with the new method


In method decisions, ACM sets for each system operator how the network tariffs are to be calculated. This forms the basis for the tariffs that system operators are allowed to charge. Each regulatory period, ACM revises these method decisions to order to ensure that they closely tie in with current developments on the energy market as well as with the advancing energy transition. In that way, the tariffs continue to be fair and future-ready, while helping create a sustainable and efficient energy supply. For example, when drawing up the previous method decisions in 2022, ACM also already took into account investments in the energy transition. ACM has published the draft decisions for the new method on its website, and invites all stakeholders to submit their opinions no later than November 2. ACM will subsequently finalize the new method in February 2026, so that ACM will be able to set the tariffs for the year 2027 on the basis of this new methodology.

      

    
          
                                          
                                  
                                      See also
                      
    

22-09-2025  Draft method decision for TenneT’s onshore grid for 2027-2031 (in Dutch) 22-09-2025  Draft method decision for distribution system operators for electricity for 2027-2031 (in Dutch)22-09-2025  Draft method decision for distribution system operators for natural gas for 2027-2031 (in Dutch)22-09-2025  Draft method decision for GTS for 2027-2031 (in Dutch) 22-09-2025  Draft method decision for TenneT’s offshore grid for 2027-2031 (in Dutch)22-09-2025  Overview page with publications of draft method decisions REG2027 (in Dutch)13-12-2024   ACM to work out new regulatory method for system operators | ACM13-12-2023  Consultation of ACM’s regulatory method: broad support for more investments in the energy transition13-10-2023  Study into benchmarking techniques for system operators (in Dutch)02-10-2023  ACM invites all interested parties to share their opinions about the new tariff methodology | ACM21-07-2023  ACM starts preparations for the new regulatory period for system operators | ACM21-07-2023  Study into regulatory methods of international system operators (in Dutch)21-07-2023  Study into investment incentives for system operators (in Dutch)
            
                                  
                                
                  

                
          
          
          Publication characteristics
          
                                    
                Publication date
                22-09-2025
              
                      
                                    
                Publication type
                  News

              
                      

                      
              Spokesperson
              
                                    Tjitte Mastenbroek

                              
            
          
                                

          
                      

                                    
                Keywords
                  Method decisions,
  Gas,
  Electricity,
  Tariffs

              
                      
                                    
                Subjects
                  Energy

ACM Introduces New Tariff Method to Boost Energy Transition and Investment

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has published a new method for determining the tariff revenues of system operators, which is designed to promote necessary investments in the congested energy grid. This initiative is crucial for facilitating the energy transition and reducing long waiting times for households and businesses seeking new or upgraded connections.

 ACM's Member of the Board, Manon Leijten, emphasized the urgency for system operators to efficiently address grid congestion issues. The new method aims to provide financial flexibility for essential investments while ensuring that costs are fairly distributed among users. As the country shifts away from natural gas, the maintenance costs of the gas network must be equitably shared, preventing unnecessary tariff increases for consumers.

 The transition to sustainable energy sources is vital for meeting climate goals and reducing dependence on foreign natural gas. However, the rapid pace of this transition has led to grid capacity issues, resulting in significant societal costs. ACM's new method is expected to provide system operators with the certainty needed to recover their investment costs, while also addressing the rising costs for natural gas users.

 In addition to promoting investments, ACM will implement stricter oversight and transparency measures regarding the costs and performance of system operators. This includes targeted checks on cost efficiency and a requirement for operators to provide clear information about their costs and tariff fluctuations. The aim is to ensure that consumers only pay for necessary costs while accelerating the energy transition.

 ACM will finalize the new method by February 2026, allowing for the establishment of tariffs for 2027 based on this updated methodology. Stakeholders are invited to submit their opinions on the draft decisions by November 2, 2025.



ACM Introduces New Tariff Method to Boost Energy Transition and Investment

The Dutch competition authority, ACM, has unveiled a new method for setting tariff revenues for system operators, aimed at stimulating investments to address grid congestion and accelerate the energy transition.