ACM: holders of exemptions for private networks must take action before their exemptions expire
Businesses that were granted exemptions in 2013 by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) for the operation of private networks for natural gas and/or electricity (a so-called closed distribution system, CDS) will have to renew this exemption on time, change it, or let it expire. If exemption holders do not take any action before their exemptions expire, they may end up in a situation where they operate an illegal network or grid.
The exemptions that ACM has granted since 2013 are valid for a ten-year period. ACM has already contacted several of the 17 exemption holders directly, and reminded them of the expiration of their exemptions in 2023. The other exemption holders will be notified by ACM soon. CDS-exemption holders that have exemptions with an expiration date after 2023 do not need to take any action at this time. ACM will contact these businesses in a timely manner.
Distribution systems for natural gas or electricity must be operated by distribution system operators (DSOs). Only if a business meets several statutory criteria, it may qualify for an exemption, and thus operate its own network or grid.