New grid rules put half of housing electricity requests on waiting list, but capacity remains for many projects

Regional electricity network operators reported a sharp rise in applications for power connections to new residential builds from the start of the year through early July, roughly twice the volume recorded in the prior year. The industry association notes that one outlet grid can accommodate about half of these requests, matching the government's ambition to construct many homes annually. The remaining applications are now placed on a waiting list introduced by rule changes effective 1 July, which assign priority based on a framework that treats housing equally with services such as waste management, schools and public transport, while giving higher precedence to hospitals, broadcast towers and water suppliers.

The Autoriteit Consument en Markt disclosed the regulatory overhaul and offered a transitional provision: developers submitting requests before 1 July 2026 could still be evaluated under the former rules, provided the project is expected to commence within three years, leading to a surge of early filings. Netbeheer Nederland added that the grid situation is dynamic, and future expansions, more efficient grid use, or shifts in project timelines may create additional capacity for pending connections.