Office of Energy Regulation

The supervisor for the energy sector is the Office of Energy Regulation (named Energiekamer), based in The Hague.  The Office of Energy Regulation is responsible for implementing and ensuring compliance with the 1998 Electricity Act.  This act represents the beginning of the liberalisation of the electricity and gas sectors.  The Office of Energy Regulation ensures the conditions for the free market, such as completely free access to the electricity grids under equal conditions.  It also advises the Ministry of Economic Affairs on the appointment of grid operators, permits for suppliers of consumers that are not yet free to choose, tariffs and the tariff structure of transmission and system services, and supply tariffs.  The Office of Energy Regulation establishes the tariff structures and conditions for the transmission of electricity.  Furthermore, it is charged with determining connection, transmission and supply tariffs for electricity, including the discount to promote efficient operations by grid operators.  Once every two years, the Office of Energy Regulation assesses whether grid operators are able to sufficiently and efficiently meet the overall demand for transmission capacity.