ACM is working on a new decision on opportunities for prioritization of projects that contribute to major social objectives in getting connected to the grid
                  

                
                                  






  







  



  
    
              
        
        
      
      
                        
          

Summary

ACM is working on a new decision on opportunities for prioritization of transport requests.
With this decision, system operators continue to have the ability to prioritize projects such as schools, hospitals, and police stations.
In late June, ACM will publish a draft decision to which all parties involved are able to respond


  

  

    
      
          

      

  


                

  
    
            

In compliance with a court ruling, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) will ensure that, also after January 1, 2026, system operators continue to have the ability to prioritize projects that contribute to major social objectives: projects such as schools, hospitals, and police stations can be given priority in getting connected to the grid. That is why ACM seeks to publish by late June a new draft decision on opportunities for prioritization of transport requests, to which all parties involved are able to respond.


There are many areas in the Netherlands where there is currently insufficient grid capacity to fully meet demand for transport capacity. As a result, waiting lists have emerged for access to the grid. Your place on this waiting list was traditionally determined by the timing of your application: on a first-come-first-serve basis. Last year, ACM handed down a decision with which system operators were able to prioritize projects that contribute to major social objectives: projects such as schools and hospitals.


In March 2025, the Dutch Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal (CBb) ruled that ACM had to hand down a new decision on the prioritization framework on the basis of which system operators determine what projects are prioritized. According to the CBb, ACM has the independent power to set a prioritization framework. However, ACM does have to better assess and better justify which parties get priority. That is why the CBb reversed the code amendment decision on opportunities for prioritization of transport requests, and gave ACM until January 1, 2026 to make adjustments to the prioritization framework in the form of a new decision. The current framework is to remain in effect until then.


In order to ensure that system operators continue to have the ability to prioritize projects that contribute to major social objectives, ACM seeks to publish a new draft decision on the prioritization framework by late June. ACM is calling on all parties involved to respond to this draft decision within six weeks so that all responses can be incorporated into a new code decision. ACM plans to publish this new code decision no later than December so that system operators will be able to use this new framework starting on January 1, 2026.

      

    
          
                                          
                                  
                                      See also
                      
    

11-03-2025  Response to CBb ruling: ACM has the independent power to set a prioritization framework and to make choices
            
                                  
                                
                  

                
          
          
          Publication characteristics
          
                                    
                Publication date
                22-04-2025
              
                      
                                    
                Publication type
                  News

              
                      

                      
              Spokesperson
              
                                    Tjitte Mastenbroek

                              
            
          
                                

          
                      

                                    
                Keywords
                  Codes,
  Energietransitie,
  Regulation,
  Electricity

              
                      
                                    
                Subjects
                  Energy

Dutch Authority to Prioritize Social Projects for Grid Access

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is preparing a new decision to prioritize transport requests for grid connections, particularly for projects that contribute to significant social objectives. This initiative follows a court ruling mandating ACM to ensure that system operators can continue to prioritize essential projects like schools, hospitals, and police stations.

 Currently, there is a shortage of grid capacity in various regions of the Netherlands, leading to waiting lists for access. Traditionally, access was granted on a first-come-first-serve basis. However, ACM's previous decision allowed for prioritization of socially beneficial projects, which has prompted the need for a revised framework.

 In March 2025, the Dutch Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal (CBb) ruled that ACM must establish a new prioritization framework. The tribunal emphasized that ACM has the authority to set these priorities but must provide clearer assessments and justifications for the prioritization of projects. Consequently, ACM has until January 1, 2026, to implement these changes while the current framework remains in effect.

 To facilitate this process, ACM plans to publish a draft decision by late June, inviting feedback from all stakeholders within a six-week period. The final code decision is expected to be released by December, allowing system operators to utilize the new prioritization framework starting January 1, 2026.



ACM is working on a new decision on opportunities for prioritization of projects that contribute to major social objectives in getting connected to the grid

Dutch Authority to Prioritize Social Projects for Grid Access

The Dutch competition authority, ACM, is set to issue a new decision allowing prioritization of projects that serve major social objectives, such as schools and hospitals, for grid connections.