11.12.2024 · Short read

Dutch Energy Act passed by Senate

The Dutch Energy Act (Energiewet), which will replace the current Dutch Gas Act and the Dutch Electricity Act, was passed by the Senate (Eerste Kamer) yesterday, December 10 2024. This act combines the regulations for the transport and supply of gas and electricity in the Netherlands into one law, with a focus on improved transparency, structure and consistency. It also incorporates the agreements from the Dutch Climate Agreement and new EU legislation. The new law affects all parties in the energy sector and aims to increase opportunities for the transition to cleaner and renewable sources of energy, with more sustainable local energy production, storage and flexibility.

To this end, the Energy Act creates more opportunities for participation and innovation for parties in the energy market such as the energy community (sale and supply of electricity produced by members), the aggregator (market participant that focuses on better matching the supply and demand of electricity) and the active customer (end user that produces, stores, consumes or delivers back electricity or gas itself).

In addition, the Energy Act offers the possibility to address issues regarding the full electricity grid, such as grid congestion. The law seeks to provide the possibility for more effective and flexible use of the already existing space on the grid (through, for example, demand response and congestion management) on the one hand, and more opportunities for joint use of a grid connection on the other. For example, the Energy Act includes a new, more extensive regulation for cable pooling, which would make all facilities for generation, storage, conversion or consumption of electricity in each other’s immediate vicinity eligible for sharing a grid connection. In order to qualify, parties must, among other things, jointly conclude a connection and transmission agreement with the electricity transmission or distribution system operator.

The law further aims to strengthen the position of consumers and the supervision of the energy sector. Parties such as households, the self-employed and small businesses are better protected, through, for example, transparent conditions, fixed contracts (of at least 1 year) and better protection in the event of billing of energy contracts and bankruptcy of the energy supplier. The requirements for a supply license will also be tightened and the Authority Consumer & Market and Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth will have responsibilities for monitoring and enforcing the (new) rules.

Lastly, the Energy Act also sets rules on the obligations of parties collecting, managing and exchanging energy data, such as network operators, suppliers, metering companies and market participants, and introduces a new data exchange entity.

However, much of the implementation and interpretation of the Energy Act will still need to be regulated in secondary legislation, such as administrative orders (AMvBs) and ministerial regulations. The law will enter into force at once when this secondary legislation is finished. When that will be is not clear at this time.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about this topic, please feel free to contact one of our colleagues.

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