Offsetting of solar power will stop and owners of solar panels will no longer be able to offset the generated power against the power consumed. In addition, another setback may appear around the corner. Owners of solar panels receive a feed-in payment from the energy supplier for the solar power generated, but they also have to pay feed-in costs. And with various energy suppliers these costs are higher than the reimbursement, according to the Eigen Huis Association. If a customer has a multi-year contract with such an energy supplier, he or she is screwed.
Most participants in the position are very angry about this arrangement. This punishes sustainable behavior, according to the majority of respondents. “The government encouraged the purchase of solar panels. Substantial investments were made. Because the government did not foresee the size, there is now overcapacity of power at certain times and the owner is presented with the bill due to government failure,” says a participant. And another respondent also believes that you were first encouraged to go green, but then you are punished: “Why invest in a home battery or heat pump? It will cost you a lot of money and soon you will be punished again because you have stopped using gas and the government is short of money. What a mockery, why still trust the government?”
Many participants believe that the abolition of the netting scheme and paying extra for the return of solar power will be counterproductive. The majority expects that few citizens will invest in solar panels. In addition, many owners of solar panels who have to pay extra for the return of solar power will switch off their systems, many expect. “Pay extra? Then the plug will be pulled!” it sounds. Customers of, for example, Innova Energy or Simply Energy will have to pay extra.
Most people deny that the measures mentioned would make it more attractive to buy a heat pump and/or home battery. Investing in a sustainable home is no longer a priority. Moreover, they expect that the government’s climate goals will not be achieved.
Like Vereniging Eigen Huis, most participants want the government to reprimand energy suppliers such as Innova Energy or Simply Energy. The majority of participants (87%) believe that politicians in The Hague should quickly legislate to ensure that the compensation for solar power is always net positive.
Most respondents (69%) own solar panels, a small proportion (8%) rent them. Almost a quarter (23%) do not generate any solar power. It is not surprising that most opponents of retaining the netting scheme can be found in this group. They believe that owners of solar panels should not complain: “After all, they have already benefited enough from subsidies.”