The Dutch State and regional grid operators Alliander, Enexis and Stedin have reached an agreement on the terms that will allow future capital contributions and related shareholdings by the Dutch State in the regional grid operators. The terms are set out in a framework agreement, which the Minister of Finance (Sigrid Kaag) and the Minister for Climate and Energy Policy (Rob Jetten) have proposed to the Dutch House of Representatives earlier this week.

The framework agreement will now be submitted for a decision to the supervisory boards, employee representation bodies and existing shareholders of the regional grid operators. The framework agreement serves as the basis for a participation agreement which will set out more detailed arrangements for shareholdings by the Dutch State in regional grid operators. The first application of the framework agreement will be at Stedin. In the recent Budget, the Dutch State announced that it has reserved €500 million for a shareholding in Stedin.

Strengthening the regional grid operators’ equity is essential for continued investment in the energy transition at a socially acceptable cost. Alliander, Enexis and Stedin expect to jointly invest €30 billion by 2030 in expanding and reinforcing the energy grids. Further ambitions, such as the Fit for 55 package, REPowerEU and accelerated house building, will increase the amount of investment even more in the coming years.