You Could Be Overpaying for Electricity by up to €1,400 a Year

You likely don’t think about the number on your meterkast (meter cupboard). That number determines how much electricity your house can get from the grid at a given time. You only think about it when a fuse blows, for example, because your dryer, oven, and shower pump all woke up at the same time.

That number determines a big part of your electricity costs. The Dutch regulator says that over 300,000 households and small businesses pay for capacity they will never use.

The ACM’s Report

The ACM published its findings on 6 October. It says that the standard connection for a household in the Netherlands is 3×25 ampere. In 2026, the grid costs for such a connection are about €360 a year, and it will comfortably support 15,000 kWh. The average family of four uses approximately 3,500 kWh.

266,000 households and small businesses use less than 15,000 kWh and have a connection heavier than 3 x 25 amperes. Another 47,000 households and small businesses use between 15,000 and 25,000 kWh on a connection heavier than 3×35 ampere. A 3×35 ampere connection costs around €1,800 a year and a 3×80 ampere connection around €4,500 a year. The difference between the heavier and standard connection is at least €1,400 each year.

Read Also: Reading Your Dutch Utility Meters: The Meterkast And More

Why Would Anyone Have a Heavier Meterkast Connection?

Many of the connections went with the houses, one of those costs nobody checks when moving in. Many of the shops converted to houses, older farmhouses, and houses that once had a workshop have different wiring. Some owners upgraded the connections when they added a heat pump or charging point because they felt safer.

According to ACM’s research, most houses can have a heat pump, charging point, and an induction hob on a 3×25 connection. It’s just a matter of not turning them all on at once.

How to Check Your Meterkast in Five Minutes

You don’t need an electrician to find out your connection size; you just need one document.

• Your latest annual statement (jaarafrekening) from your energy supplier has your connection size (aansluitwaarde) and your yearly consumption in kWh.
• If your connection is 3×25 ampere and your yearly consumption is 15,000 kWh or less, you don’t need to do anything because you’re already on the standard connection.
• If your connection is more than 3×25 ampere, and your yearly consumption is 15,000 kWh or less, ACM is talking about you.
• To find out what size connection you can downsize to, use mijnaansluiting.nl, the grid operators’ shared portal. Downsizing your connection will cost approximately €300, once.

The line for your connection on your energy supplier’s bill shows the grid charges, not a separate bill from Liander, Stedin, or Enexis. This is why most people don’t notice it.

The Catch Before You Call

ACM warns that you should read this twice. The grid is full in many places. About 15,500 companies are waiting for a connection, Netbeheer Nederland said this week. If you downsize now and want to go back up in three years for a larger heat pump or a second car, for example, you may end up in that queue too.

Think about your house plans first. Insulation, solar panels, or a heat pump changes what your home needs from the grid, and many homeowners look at what a greener home means for running costs before making a change.

Will This Help the Full Grid?

Not much, and ACM is clear about this. The grid’s capacity is planned based on how people use power, not connection size. A smaller connection frees up money in your account, not space on the cables.

We are talking about big money over here. Grid operators estimate that expanding the grid will cost about 235 billion euros between now and 2040. Better grid use could save billions of euros. In that case, your 1,400 euros would be a small saving. For you, it’s a trip to the Dutch coast.

What Happens Next

Each year, ACM sets the maximum grid tariffs, and it will announce the 2027 figures in November or December. This means the difference between standard and heavy tariffs could change again. Netbeheer Nederland sees the waiting list shortening in some regions, and more flexible contracts being signed. Utrecht hopes to connect priority projects again from 2028. Until then, the cheapest capacity is the capacity you do not pay for.