Grid congestion payment: what it is and how to join

In February 2026 national grid operator TenneT warned that the electricity grid in the Flevopolder, Gelderland and Utrecht had reached its limits. Without extra measures, no new or heavier small-consumer connections would be possible from the summer onwards. Small consumers includes ordinary households.

The government, the grid operators and the provinces split the grid into five congestion areas, freed up capacity for housing and public services, and brought grid expansions forward. In four of the five areas a connection stop has been prevented for now. Those five areas sit around Breukelen Kortrijk, southern Flevoland (including Soest and Bunschoten), the area around Dronten, Harderwijk and Hattem, and Dodewaard and Doetinchem. Where there is no regional stop, the local grid can still be tight; we see that during the survey.

For a large part of the province of Utrecht the shortfall was too big. A temporary connection pause has applied there since 1 July 2026: applications for new or heavier connections go on a waiting list until capacity frees up. That affects households and businesses. Housing projects already planned do go ahead; in the region that concerns some 35,000 homes.

The pause is temporary, but without an end date. In October 2026 the grid operators will look at whether capacity can be released per 1 January 2027.

If you want to upgrade your home: a heat pump or EV charger often fits within your existing connection. In that case there is nothing to apply for with the grid operator and the pause does not affect you. We always check this during the survey.

SolarFast partners with Frank Energie. We couple HyxiPower and KStar to Frank when you take their dynamic contract or already have one; Dyness through Smart Grid One. Frank takes part in the grid congestion programmes and already has sign-up live for congestion areas in the Flevopolder, Gelderland, Utrecht and North Brabant (East). With Frank Energie's postcode check you can see whether your address lies in a designated area.

For every home battery, EV charger or heat pump that takes part, they settle the grid congestion payment monthly on your bill. Frank says steering starts in November; the app then shows you daily what it earns you. The number of participants per congestion area is capped.

Frank says it steers more than 30,000 customer devices. You remain free to switch energy suppliers, and the devices we install also work without Frank. Already a Frank customer? Then you can activate congestion steering through the app.

The payment makes steerability a purchase criterion. A home battery, EV charger or heat pump that can be steered remotely can take part. A device that cannot stays outside these programmes. That is why we install steerable brands: HyxiPower and KStar (through Frank on a dynamic contract), Dyness through Smart Grid One, plus compatible chargers.

Part of our service area, including Utrecht, De Ronde Venen and Almere, lies in or against the congestion areas. A steerable setup pays off elsewhere too: the evening peak plays everywhere, and with the end of the net metering scheme, using more of your own power is becoming more important anyway.

Check your postcode, check whether your device is steerable and sign up if you live in a designated area.

Thinking about a home battery, charger or heat pump that can take part? Put your situation to us and we will look at your connection and advise a setup that is ready for steering and payment.