When the grid says no: why energy capacity is becoming a business risk

Electricity demand is rising faster than supply. Networks are struggling to cope, and for many organisations, the promise of full electrification now comes with a hidden constraint: the grid itself.

Most companies are investing in electric systems for heat, cooling, and mobility. But every site has a contractual limit on how much power it can draw from the network, known as its Maximum Import Capacity (MIC). Breaching that limit comes with penalties, and getting approval to increase it is becoming harder by the month.

This isn’t a distant challenge. It’s already happening. In many regions, requests for higher MIC are being delayed or rejected because grid capacity is simply unavailable. That means organisations electrifying too quickly — or without understanding their true demand profile — could face costly load restrictions, financial penalties, or even supply interruptions. Without proper planning, forecasting and management, your organisation is at risk.

What if millions of investment can’t be supported by the grid?

Electrifying heat or cooling may look like a straightforward decarbonisation win. In reality, it often creates sharp peaks in electricity demand. A cold spell, for example, can send power use soaring beyond contractual limits. Without careful planning, the systems designed to reduce emissions can become a new source of operational and financial risk.

Where resilience begins

On-site generation often tops the list of decarbonisation efforts. But real resilience starts before implementation – it starts with understanding your demand and actively managing it. Knowing exactly how and when your organisation uses energy is the foundation for controlling exposure and planning upgrades responsibly.

Historical load data provides the baseline. Continuous monitoring adds visibility. Together, they reveal how demand shifts through the day and across seasons, and where the opportunities lie to spread or reduce peaks.

For operational leaders, this isn’t just about keeping the lights on. It’s about protecting day-to-day operations, financial stability and the capacity for growth. MIC penalties, unplanned downtime, or network restrictions can all cascade into cost, compliance, and credibility risks.

Clarity before capacity

Installing solar arrays or buying more hardware isn’t the solution. The first step is clarity: knowing what’s driving demand, where flexibility exists, and how to balance electrification with grid constraints.

With the right insight, organisations can plan their decarbonisation journey without creating new risks. Energy resilience becomes part of an organisation-wide strategy, not an afterthought.