What is a Capacity Limiting Contract (CBC)?

A CBC contract is an agreement between your company and the grid operator in which you agree not to draw more than a certain amount of power from the electricity grid at any given time. In return, you receive a discount on network costs or a faster connection. The principle: better to manage existing capacity smartly than to wait for grid reinforcement.

According to Netbeheer Nederland , CBC contracts are increasingly being used to reduce congestion. Companies with a predictable consumption profile or the ability to temporarily manage their demand are most suitable for this.

How does a CBC contract work in practice?

With a CBC contract, you agree on a maximum power limit - for example, 500 kW. You may not exceed this limit, not even briefly. Exceeding it leads to penalties or, in extreme cases, termination of the contract. Therefore, continuous monitoring is essential.

• Power limit: the maximum amount of electricity you may draw at any given time. Monitoring:
• the grid operator continuously measures whether you stay within the limit. Penalty clauses:
• exceeding it leads to financial penalties. A

smart EMS helps to automatically monitor these limits. The system analyzes real-time consumption and controls consumers or batteries as soon as the limit approaches, preventing overruns. Get the most out of your CBC contract

When is a CBC contract beneficial?

Not every company directly benefits from a CBC contract. The arrangement is particularly beneficial if you have flexibility in your energy consumption or if expanding your connection is not possible. Typical situations include:

• Manufacturing companies that operate in shifts and can spread their consumption.
• Logistics centers with charging infrastructure that can be smartly controlled.
• Cold storage facilities that can temporarily pause installations or deploy batteries.

According to RVO companies can utilize up to 30% more capacity within the same connection through smart management. This makes CBC contracts attractive for those looking to grow despite a congested grid. Curious if a CBC contract is right for you? Read our article on when a CBC contract is beneficial for your organization.

What do you need to effectively manage a CBC contract?

The success of a CBC contract depends on the level of control you have over your energy consumption. Without real-time insight, the risk of exceeding limits is significant. The following components are essential:

• Real-time measurements: insight into your actual power per minute or quarter-hour.
• Asset control: batteries, charging points, and machines must be able to react automatically.
• Predictive algorithms: software that anticipates peaks and intervenes preventively.

An smart EMS combines all these functions. It predicts peaks, controls assets, and logs data to prove you stay within agreed limits. This way, you gain the benefits of the CBC contract without risk.

What are the benefits of a CBC contract?

The benefits are clear: cost savings, faster expansion, and contributing to a stable grid. Crucially, you can sustain these benefits structurally with technology that monitors and anticipates.

• Cost advantage: lower network costs or faster connection.
• Flexibility as an asset: companies that manage smartly get priority for capacity.
• Sustainable growth: better utilization of existing infrastructure without reinforcement.

According to Energeia the investment in smart control often pays for itself within two years through lower energy costs and reduced production loss due to congestion. You can read more about this in our article on the benefits (and risks) of a CBC contract.

What are the risks of a CBC contract?

The risks primarily involve exceedances and penalties. Without reliable control, peaks can go unnoticed. Furthermore, an overly strict limit can restrict production if there's no buffer, for example, through battery storage.

• Penalty Risk: exceeding the agreed capacity can result in immediate costs.
• Operational Risk: production can be halted if the limit is exceeded.
• Technical Risk: insufficient monitoring or automation leads to errors.

With real-time control by a smart EMS you can mitigate these risks. The system intervenes automatically as soon as the load increases, temporarily pausing or shifting processes without impacting production.

Conclusion: CBC contracts work best with smart control

A CBC contract offers companies an opportunity to grow without additional grid capacity, but it demands control. Those who cannot manage their consumption in real-time face risks. With a smart EMS you prevent exceedances, maximize flexibility, and turn a limitation into a competitive advantage.