Enexis calls for concerted action to prevent winter power surges

These measures are expected to be sufficient to handle the expected power peaks this winter, but the grid operator cannot guarantee this. In extreme cases, Enexis may have to switch off part of the power grid as a precautionary measure. To reduce this risk, the grid operator is calling on companies and households to use less power on cold days between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., for example by spreading power consumption over the rest of the day.  

What's going on? 

On days with severe frost, a lot of electricity is consumed by households and businesses at the same time. For example, to heat or charge electric cars. This creates peaks on the power grid. This usually happens between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., but also in the morning between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Enexis expects these peaks to become so high at some critical locations in its service area that the power grid cannot handle them. 

Maarten Noom, Director of Asset Management at Enexis explains:

"If we don't do anything about it, the power grid becomes overloaded at those times and damage occurs to cables or power stations, resulting in prolonged power outages. And of course we always want to prevent our customers being without power for long periods of time."

Enexis is therefore investigating and implementing various measures. Such as (mandatory) participation in congestion management. Here, companies are asked to use less power at certain peak times for a fee. A more technical measure is the use of the outage reserves, which are normally only used during works or an outage. In the very worst case when these measures are not available or sufficient, Enexis temporarily switches off part of the power grid. Businesses and households will then be temporarily without power locally. How long this will take depends on when the peak in power consumption subsides again. This may be several hours. Unfortunately, this situation can repeat itself several days in a row if it continues to freeze solidly. 

It matters when you consume power 

At those 22 critical spots, "normal" grid management is no longer possible. 

"The measures we can then deploy may have an impact on our customers and we find that very annoying. If we join hands with our customers we can prevent this to a large extent." 

says Noom. 

The grid operator is therefore calling on everyone to avoid peaks on the grid as much as possible. Both companies and households can contribute to this. Spread power consumption over the day as much as possible and reduce consumption between peak times. Companies can, for example, recharge electric (company) vehicles at a different time or less quickly, or use energy-intensive equipment - such as heat pumps, air conditioners or industrial machinery - as much as possible outside peak hours. Households, for example, can charge the electric car at night and turn on the washing machine and dishwasher during the day, only to turn on the induction hob and heating when they get home in the evening.

Future

The changing energy system is having an impact. The Netherlands is electrifying and generating its own power, which is good news. At the same time, this puts a lot of pressure on the existing infrastructure. For example, Enexis previously announced that it also faces the threat of overloading in the spring and summer. On very sunny days, so much power is generated and fed back into the grid at certain times that additional measures are also needed at those times to handle peaks.

Enexis does everything it can to prevent power outages, but it cannot guarantee it. "It is therefore wise to prepare for this," says Noom. Consider, for example, checking the emergency supply for critical business processes or preparing a flashlight at home. 

"It seems that in the coming winters and summers we will face potential overloads in an increasing number of places on the power grid. We are continuing to work hard unabated to expand the grid, but we face significant challenges there as well." 

The grid operator says that avoiding power peaks and making more efficient use of grid space remains necessary anyway for an accessible power grid for all. Now and in the future. 

More information

Enexis informs residents (Small Use) on their website:

• A full power grid | Enexis Netbeheer (for households and small businesses)
• Help your company prevent electricity station overload | Enexis Netbeheer (for customers with a wholesale connection.