Over 300,000 Dutch consumers overpay for electricity connections

More than 300,000 Dutch households and small companies pay excessive annual fees for unnecessarily large electricity connections, according to regulator ACM.

Why it matters: The Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM, the Dutch consumer regulator) found that consumers and business owners often waste thousands of euros each year without realizing their capacity exceeds actual needs.

By the numbers:

• A standard connection of up to 3x25 Ampère costs around €360 annually in 2026 and supports usage up to 15,000 kilowatt-hours.
• A 3x35 Ampère setup averages €1,800 yearly, while the heaviest 3x80 Ampère category reaches €4,500 annually.
• An average family of four in a terraced home uses roughly 3,500 kilowatt-hours per year.
• Switching to a smaller connection involves a one-time fee of about €300.

The details: Heavier connections are generally only needed when operating power-hungry equipment simultaneously, such as a sauna, heated pond, or swimming pool. The ACM notes that households can prevent power spikes by staggering appliance use or charging electric vehicles at slower rates.

Catch up quickly: Consumers can check their connection category on their energy provider annual bill and request changes with their regional grid operator.

The catch: The ACM warns customers to consider the decision carefully because network congestion means anyone wishing to upgrade later often lands on a waiting list. Downsizing will not relieve crowded power grids quickly either, because operators calculate available capacity using actual consumption data rather than theoretical connection limits.

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