The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has introduced a set of measures to alleviate grid congestion issues by encouraging more flexible grid usage. By incentivizing large-scale users to reduce grid consumption during peak hours, capacity is freed up for other users and sustainable electricity producers. Additionally, a prioritization scheme for projects with social functions allows system operators to connect essential facilities like schools and hospitals to the grid more swiftly.

Grid congestion primarily occurs during peak hours, leading to an imbalance between electricity demand and supply. ACM's measures offer compensations of up to 50% of grid costs to large-scale users who reduce grid consumption during peak periods, thereby creating space for other companies in need of grid access.

ACM has refined congestion management rules to facilitate the connection of solar and wind farms in areas with excess production. System operators can now require larger companies to provide flexibility in exchange for compensation, enhancing opportunities for new connections.

Furthermore, a prioritization framework established by ACM enables system operators to prioritize projects with social value, such as congestion softeners like battery systems and critical services like national defense and healthcare. This framework aims to address the growing waiting list for grid access and ensure fair and transparent project prioritization.