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3 June 2026 · 2 min read

From 1 July 2026 households lose reserved priority on the grid

By Stefan Douw · Maker of Stekkerkompas

From 1 July 2026 grid operators allocate the scarce room on the power grid under a new prioritization framework from the ACM. For households one thing changes materially: the automatic reservation of grid capacity for small consumers, connections up to 3x80 amps, ends.

What changes

Until now, in congested areas grid operators kept room free for future small consumers. From 1 July that no longer happens automatically. Requests are judged under three priority categories: parties that free up room on the grid, safety and acute care, and basic needs such as housing.

What it means for you

Housing falls under basic needs and so keeps priority. But priority does not mean you get a connection straight away: you wait until room is available. If you want a new or heavier connection, for example for a heat pump, charger or home battery, and you live in a congested area, factor in a possible wait.

What you can do

You can often get more from your existing connection by avoiding peaks: charge your car and battery at quiet moments and spread out heavy appliances. Use the calculator to see what smart use and storage add, which also lowers your peak demand on the grid.

Run the numbers for your home

Open the calculator

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