Help the grid and get compensated
Electricity on the Dutch grid is tight. If you can wait to charge during winter dinner-hour peaks, Stekker pays you a fixed fee for that flexibility.
From grid pressure to money in your account
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01
Grid operator requests flexibility
During the winter evening peak, demand exceeds what the grid can handle. The grid operator asks parties like Stekker: can you shift the charging of cars for a moment?
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02
Stekker pauses briefly
Stekker pauses your charger for 15 to 60 minutes or lowers the power. After that, charging continues normally. Your car is still ready on time.
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03
Payout to your account
Your compensation arrives in your account — together with the ERE proceeds. Stekker handles the administration; you only have to plug in the cable.
How exactly does it work?
Dutch grid operators offer compensation to service providers that help stabilize the grid. If Stekker can demonstrate that smart charging helps relieve the grid (especially in winter months), Stekker receives a fee. We pass that on to everyone who signed up to receive ERE rewards through Stekker. We estimate this compensation at around €35 per year — without you having to do anything.
Frequently asked questions
How often will my charging be paused?
In winter a few times per week, each time 15 to 60 minutes between 17:00 and 20:00. In summer almost never. It is not a daily event.
What if I have to leave early in the morning?
Set this in your Stekker dashboard and the system plans around it. Congestion services are only deployed when there is enough headroom to meet your charging goal. Your car is always ready on time.
Can I switch off congestion services?
Yes. In your dashboard you can opt out. You then miss the ~€35/year. We recommend keeping it on — you help the Netherlands move off gas, you barely notice anything, and you get paid for it.
Is this the same as smart charging on quarter-hour prices?
No. Smart charging on quarter-hour prices is driven by market prices: charging when electricity is cheap. Congestion services are driven by grid signals: pausing when the grid asks for it. They work alongside each other.
Who pays the compensation?
The grid operators (TenneT and the regional grid operators in the Netherlands) pay for flexibility they buy through marketplaces such as GOPACS. Stekker bundles home chargers into a single flexibility pool and pays out each user’s share.
Does Stekker already do this for businesses?
Yes. Stekker has coordinated congestion services for business locations with multiple chargers for years — that’s our core. For consumers, the same approach rolls out in 2026 via the ERE authorization.
Everything in one sign-up
Your ERE authorization is the only step you need to take. With it you automatically participate in grid congestion services (~€35/year) and receive ERE compensation (the larger amount). Smart charging on prices and solar rolls out for consumers from June 1, 2026.
