The limit for large electricity consumers has now been reached almost everywhere in South Holland. This means that new applications from this group are put on a waiting list.
The rapid growth of heat pumps, charging stations and companies switching from natural gas to electricity is creating huge demand for capacity on the electricity grid. In recent years, this development has already led to bottlenecks in the medium-voltage networks of Stedin and Liander at several points in South Holland and in the high-voltage network of TenneT in the port of Rotterdam.
A few exceptions
for Maasvlakte and regions Naaldwijk and Alblasserdam
TenneT announced today that the high-voltage grid in a large part of the province of South Holland has reached its maximum capacity. Two Stedin power stations in Dordrecht have also reached maximum capacity. Only the Maasvlakte and the areas around Naaldwijk and Alblasserdam are excluded from this warning. There is still limited room on the grid there.?
Waiting list
for companies and public utilities
TenneT and Stedin today submitted a formal notification to the Authority Consumer & Market, the energy market regulator. This means that wholesale customers in the relevant areas of Zuid-Holland who want a new or larger connection will be put on a waiting list. This applies to all parties with a connection larger than 3x80 amps, such as companies and large institutions, but also public institutions such as schools, swimming pools and village halls in the area concerned. These customers will be notified accordingly.
Wholesale consumers urged
avoid rush hours
Grid operators are launching a congestion study to see if the grid can be relieved at peak times. For example, through technical measures or by allowing large consumers to shift their demand for electricity at peak times (the 'rush hour') to times when there is less demand for electricity. By introducing 'rush hour avoidance', additional space can be found for new requests. Network operators will present the results of this study by 4 December 2025.?Companies already interested in providing flexible electricity can apply via the website www.partnersinenergie.nl.
No impact on small users or consumers
known residential plans can proceed
For the time being, there are no consequences for small electricity consumers with a connection of up to 3x80 amps, such as private individuals and small businesses. This means that there are currently no obstacles for private individuals to install, for example, a charging station or a heat pump.?Residential construction plans that are known to the grid operators have been included in the grid operators' analysis and can proceed.
Working together
to make the grid as accessible as possible?
Robert Kuik, director network planning at TenneT:
'This announcement has a significant impact on industry and business. This is a very undesirable situation for the region, which has strong sustainability ambitions. We fully understand that this is an unpleasant announcement. However, rapid growth in demand does not go hand in hand with the expansion of the electricity grid. Together with the region and the entrepreneurs, we must do everything we can to keep the grid as accessible as possible. For example, by using the grid more efficiently, or by relieving it at peak times to make more room for new applicants. We will also continue to work hard to expand the network.'?
Hundreds of millions to be invested
for strengthening electricity grid
The grid operators will invest hundreds of millions of euros in the coming years in order to structurally increase the capacity of the Zuid-Holland grid. For example, TenneT is currently working on reinforcing the high-voltage substations in Krimpen aan den IJssel, Wateringen and Bleiswijk and on new high-voltage connections between Krimpen aan den IJssel and Gouda and between Wateringen and Rijswijk. This will gradually free up space on the high-voltage grid from 2032.
Stedin and Liander are working throughout the province to strengthen and expand the electricity grid. For example, Liander is working on the expansion of some 14 substations throughout Holland Rijnland and the realisation of four new substations, for example together with TenneT in the Barrepolder (Hazerswoude Rijndijk) and the Zuidplaspolder. In Drechtsteden, Stedin is upgrading the Merwedehaven substation, which will be operational from 2032. In the Hoeksche Waard, Stedin is building a new station in Klaaswaal. This is expected to be completed in 2029.
National action programme
to speed up
Together with Friesland and Groningen, Zuid-Holland was the last province where there was still room on the grid for large electricity consumers. Two years ago, former minister Jetten set up the National Action Programme for Grid Congestion (Landelijk Actieprogramma Netcongestie (LAN), which brings together stakeholders, governments and grid operators. This includes efforts to speed up the construction of energy infrastructure and to make more flexible use of the grid. Energy boards have also been set up in each province and in the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam to work with various stakeholders to tackle bottlenecks.?
