As a shareholder in Stedin, the Province of Utrecht is working on solving grid congestion

Thu Mar 28, 12:08

News

REGION > On March 27, the shareholders of Stedin Holding NV agreed to the addition of the province of Utrecht as a shareholder of the network operator. The province is investing 15 million euros in Stedin to contribute to solutions to the problems on the electricity grid. With a seat on Stedin’s Shareholders Committee, the province of Utrecht can participate in discussions at an early stage with Stedin’s Supervisory Board and Board of Directors about accelerating the energy transition.

“It is great that we are taking our social responsibility to solve the problems that grid operators face. We can now participate in discussions at an early stage about existing plans and we look forward to further fleshing them out as a shareholder,” said Finance Minister Has Bakker during the shareholders’ meeting. Deputy Huib van Essen (Energy Transition) is also happy to join after all the efforts: “The entire province of Utrecht is currently already suffering from grid congestion. By working together we can contribute to unorthodox solutions that relieve the burden on the electricity grid or use it more flexibly and smarter. As a shareholder, we also contribute to accelerating the energy transition.”

Stedin shareholding is an ambition from the coalition agreement ‘Getting started for Utrecht’. Contributions to financing the energy transition are necessary to help grid operators make the power supply more sustainable and have enough space on the grid for companies and new residential areas. The Provincial Council also sees that importance. Deputy Bakker: “In this step to become a shareholder, we as a council also feel supported by the States, which has expressed its broad support for this.”

Governments as shareholders

In recent years, Stedin has invested in the grid capacity required to make the energy supply more sustainable. At least 8 billion euros in further investments are expected until 2030. This is necessary to increase the capacity of the electricity grid and solve the problem of grid congestion

In addition to the province of Utrecht, nine Utrecht municipalities have been given the opportunity to become shareholders of Stedin. Several Utrecht municipalities have joined or are in the process of decision-making in the municipal council. Deputy Van Essen: “That is good news and in this way we as the Utrecht region also take our responsibility together.”