Dutch municipalities mandate housing project registration to manage grid congestion

Dutch municipalities are implementing new procedures to manage electricity grid congestion and secure capacity for future housing projects. Due to limited power grid capacity, new requests for transport capacity have been placed on waiting lists since July 1, 2026.

In Dordrecht, developers and housing corporations must register their projects by September 1, 2026, to ensure they are considered for priority. This initiative aims to include projects requiring connections by 2036 in the planning phase with the grid operator, Stedin. Under rules set by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), housing projects may receive priority within a specific framework.

Nationwide, municipalities are required by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations to map out all planned housing projects for the 2028–2035 period. This mandate applies to several regions, including Bergen, Uitgeest, Castricum, and Heiloo. Project initiators must submit their plans to their respective municipalities by early September 2026. The municipalities will then be responsible for requesting capacity from grid operators like Liander. While registration helps secure a place in the queue, it does not guarantee that transport capacity or priority will be granted, as the final decision rests with the grid operators.