Enexis announces a suspension of new electricity grid connections in Mierlo

Available transport capacity is full

The available transmission capacity at these substations in the area shaded in red (map) is at full capacity. Starting July 1, 2026, Enexis will no longer be able to provide any new connections to the power grid in these areas. This means that new homes, schools, healthcare facilities, etc., can no longer be connected, and further business growth will be constrained. Furthermore, upgrading an existing connection—sometimes necessary for a heat pump or charging station—will no longer be possible in these areas.

Impact on Geldrop-Mierlo

As a result, there will be no electricity available for construction projects in Mierlo for the time being, starting July 1. We are, of course, assessing the implications of this situation. We will evaluate this on a project-by-project basis. In Geldrop, electricity is available on a limited basis. 

A list is maintained, and whenever capacity becomes available, it is allocated to the highest-ranked applicant on the list. The method for prioritizing projects in areas where limited capacity is still available will be set out in regulations starting July 1. This is referred to as “social prioritization.” To this end, new national rules for allocating available capacity on the grid will take effect on July 1, 2026. These rules have been drafted by the regulator, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). This means that certain applications will be given priority. Examples include hospitals, drinking water companies, and fire stations. These are followed by housing projects, schools, and heating projects, among others.

Let's get started on coming up with solutions

The social and economic consequences of this delay are significant and affect us all. We face major local and regional challenges in the areas of housing, accessibility, and public services, and we cannot afford any delays. 

We will therefore have to pull out all the stops to mitigate the impact of these developments, through both short-term and long-term solutions. This applies in particular to the municipalities currently facing this connection pause. In this regard, we urgently need the support of the national government, the province, the municipalities in the Eindhoven metropolitan region, the grid operators TenneT and Enexis, and the regional business community.

In the coming weeks and months, we will be working closely with these partners to develop concrete solutions. These include, for example, measures to strengthen the power grid, manage available capacity and our energy demand more efficiently, and temporarily add extra capacity. At the same time, we know that grid congestion will remain a major challenge for several years to come. It is therefore crucial that we, as a region, work together on this, particularly with and toward our partners. In this way, we ensure the best chance of realizing our ambitions and plans regarding economic development, housing, amenities, and accessibility.

What can you do yourself?

You can help by using as little electricity as possible between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., whenever possible. During these peak hours, when many people are coming home, electricity consumption is generally at its highest. The power grid is being significantly expanded, but it also helps if we use less electricity during the busiest hours. For example, by running the washing machine or dishwasher at a different time or postponing the charging of an electric car or bike, we can work together to relieve the strain on the power grid.

Questions

If you have any questions, please direct them to Enexis at this time: www.enexis.nl/service-en-contact