The Minister of Economic Affairs recently submitted to parliament a bill amending the Electricity Act 1998 and an accompanying draft decree on compensation relating to the offshore grid. The bill designates TenneT as the offshore transmission system operator and creates a basis for compensation of damage caused by the late completion or malfunction of the offshore grid. The draft decree sets out detailed provisions on this right to compensation. These matters were originally part of the STROOM Bill, which the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament rejected on 22 December 2015. By submitting this new bill and draft decree the Minister is trying to avoid a delay in the development of offshore wind farms. If all goes to plan, the bill and decree will enter into force on 1 April, allowing the first tender for offshore wind farms to start on that same date and end early May 2016 (no exact date known yet).
Below you will find a link to the new bill, the explanatory memorandum, and the draft decree (in Dutch only) . We will, of course, keep you informed of further developments.
- Wetsvoorstel Wijziging van de Elektriciteitswet 1998 (tijdig realiseren doelstellingen Energieakkoord)
- Memorie van Toelichting
- Ontwerpbesluit schadevergoeding net op zee
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