The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has granted system operator Liander permission to experiment with innovative flexible contracts. These contracts, which include 'alternative transport rights', are designed to help large-scale users reduce their connections during peak hours, thereby alleviating pressure on the grid and allowing more businesses to connect.

Last year, ACM implemented a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the flexibility of grid usage for large-scale users. As a result, all system operators are now permitted to offer various types of alternative transport rights in regions experiencing grid overload. With the latest approval, Liander is set to conduct small-scale experiments with two additional forms of these rights.

Manon Leijten, a member of ACM's board, emphasized the importance of addressing the overburdened grid issue while encouraging market participants to leverage the opportunities available. She expressed support for Liander's initiative to explore more flexible contracts through this exemption, indicating ACM's openness to facilitating similar experiments in the future.

Liander's experiments will focus on two types of alternative transport rights: a variable transport right applicable even in areas without current capacity shortages, and an energy volume-based transport right. The latter allows buyers a predetermined amount of transport capacity daily, with the system operator determining the timing based on available capacity. Liander aims to integrate these new rights with existing fixed transport rights to enhance the efficient use of the current grid capacity.

By granting this exemption, ACM enables Liander to test these concepts in real-world scenarios, which will inform future regulatory frameworks. This initiative is part of ACM's broader strategy to accelerate the energy transition while safeguarding the interests of connected customers and system operators.