In November and December, all Dutch people – rich or poor – will receive a discount of 190 euros on their energy bill. At least that was the idea. In practice, it appears that many tenants are fishing behind the net. If energy is included in the rental price, you are not eligible. “How is it possible that someone from the Quote 500 receives the allowance, but someone below the poverty line does not?”
Now that energy prices are skyrocketing, the cabinet has devised this scheme. The Dutch will all receive 190 euros twice, once in November and again in December. People don’t have to do anything for this. The energy companies automatically transfer this amount to the account or settle it with the costs of the following month. But some people still fall by the wayside: think of residents of flats with block heating or in student houses in which several residents share a connection.
“The scheme is intended for all Dutch people, but not everyone gets it.”
Frank de Bie from Den Bosch is one of those people who was told that the 190 euro allowance will probably be missed. He lives in a flat where the energy costs are transferred to the rent. “This arrangement is intended for all Dutch people,” Frank begins. “The crazy thing is, not everyone gets it.”
It frustrates him and the other residents of the flat that there is a lot of uncertainty about it. “We have our own electricity meter, but no individual contact with an electricity supplier. It is unclear whether we are entitled to the money.” Residents email and call the housing associations, but they do not respond or they give varying answers.
A resident was told that they were not entitled to the allowance because they are a major consumer. “How is that possible?” says Frank. “We all have a small apartment with only one bedroom!”
“That’s crooked!”
The flat where Frank lives is also home to many seniors who have to live on a social minimum and therefore live below the poverty line. They did receive support from the municipality for the higher gas bill, but are therefore missing out on this allowance, even though they can really use the one-off contribution.
They are especially angry because the situation is so unfair: “How is it possible that someone from the Quote 500 gets the allowance, but these apartment residents don’t?” Frank wonders. “That’s crooked!”
“I expect that things will change soon, this is really not possible.”
According to Paul Kagie of Leefbaar Den Bosch, the fact that the price is in the lease is no reason to exclude these people from the compensation. “Even though they have block heating, they don’t all live in the same house and they don’t all have the same heating. They pay the bill individually and so they are entitled to that compensation just like all other Dutch people,” says the alderman.
On Tuesday, the municipality of Den Bosch will discuss this compensation. The municipality will propose that The Hague adjust the scheme so that tenants who are now excluded are also eligible. Kagie is sure that this situation does not only occur in Den Bosch. “The pressure on The Hague from the municipalities is therefore great, so I expect that something will change quickly. This is really not possible.”