Netherlands to adopt flexible electricity usage to manage grid congestion

The Netherlands is moving toward a model where flexible electricity usage becomes the standard for both citizens and businesses to manage a congested power grid. Jo-Annes de Bat, the Dutch State Secretary for Climate and Green Growth, announced this direction during a symposium hosted by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).

Due to the current state of the national grid, many areas are experiencing overcrowding, which has resulted in delays for new housing connections. De Bat noted that while the network has significant capacity, it is currently being utilized inefficiently. By adopting flexible usage—consuming more energy during off-peak hours and less during peak times—users can help prevent grid overload.

This shift is expected to be driven by price incentives, as electricity is typically cheaper during low-demand periods. However, de Bat cautioned that this transition may require a cultural shift in how people perceive energy reliability, noting that increased flexibility might lead to periods of reduced certainty in supply that the population is not currently accustomed to.