Time Is Running Out: Not All Pending Grid Connection Agreements Will Be Signed Before the Priority System Comes Into Force

Fingrid Plc (the Finnish TSO) announced on 23 October 2026 that its grid connection approval process is badly congested, as it has received a significant number of applications in recent months, particularly for grid connections for data centres and electricity storage facilities. Fingrid states that a substantial proportion of the applications currently pending are unlikely to be processed and signed during 2026 (link to Finnish press release, currently available only in Finnish).

In addition to the congestion, the handling of the grid connection applications takes time as Fingrid has started applying a two-month waiting time, running from the first grid connection application in an area. The purpose of the waiting time is to identify whether other parties in the area should share the available capacity. This procedure stems from the draft connection principles of Fingrid, which it published in July. The connection principles are not yet in force as they need prior approval of the Finnish Energy Authority under Article 59 of the Electricity Market Directive. It is also likely that the connection principles will need to be adjusted before the approval due to the proposed priority rules.

Fingrid also announced during a webinar it held on the same day that it will likely amend the criterion relating to expropriation permit applications within the maturity criteria (which are currently also based on the connection principles not yet in force) for grid connection agreement applications. According to Fingrid, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has notified it that one of the reasons for the congestion in expropriation permit handling is that incomplete expropriation applications have been filed (in certain cases an expropriation permit must have been applied for as a prerequisite for the grid connection agreement), as applicants race to put an agreement in place with Fingrid during 2026.

In the same webinar, Fingrid noted that next year it will review existing grid connection agreements and amend the capacity so that it reflects actual usage during the preceding 12-month period. It remains uncertain how this will be done. Fingrid indicated that it could do this through the Oma Fingrid e-portal without amending the existing grid connection agreements.

The Ministry stated in a press release issued on the same day, Friday 23 October 2026, that it aims to send the legislation to Parliament in December this year. The legislation on grid connection priority rules (see our alert on the draft Government Proposal) is proposed to enter into force on 1 January 2027. Under the proposal, all grid connection matters for which an agreement has not been duly signed will be moved into the priority system. If the legislation enters into force on 1 January 2027, the two-month waiting time would mean that Fingrid would not process, outside the priority system, any new applications submitted from November onwards. As mentioned above, Fingrid’s new connection principles are not yet in force.

According to the press release, the Ministry has recognised the need to further improve the legislation, in addition to the current draft proposal. The Ministry will establish a working group to look at ways to introduce “further provisions” for the parties seeking to connect to the grid. The new legislation, to be prepared by the working group, would concern, for example, the resilience of the grid system. The working group aims to issue its report by 28 March 2027. On the basis of the wording of the press release, we deem it likely that establishing a working group would not have any effect on the current proposal, but rather that amendments to it may be suggested based on the working group’s proposal at a later time.

Please do not hesitate to contact our energy market regulation team, Partner Heidi Malmberg, Senior Associate Iida Mäkimattila or Partner Miika Pinomaa if you have any questions regarding the above.