News item | 28-02-2023 | 9:00 am
SMEs whose energy costs make up a relatively large part of their total turnover can apply for the Energy Cost Allowance (TEK) from 21 March. The TEK scheme is a temporary compensation for energy-intensive SMEs for increased gas and electricity costs. The allowance can be applied for with retroactive effect and runs from 1 November 2022 to 31 December 2023.
With the help of this allowance, energy-intensive SMEs will have more breathing space to make their business model future-proof. SMEs whose energy costs amount to at least 7% of turnover and which meet the other conditions of the scheme will receive a maximum reimbursement of €160,000. The compensation amounts to 50% of the increase in energy costs above a set so-called threshold price. This scheme must comply with European state aid rules and must therefore be approved by the European Commission. With the approval of the European Commission, the scheme can be opened. The regulation has already been published today in the Government Gazette.
Conditions and operation of the scheme
The TEK allowance is intended for energy-intensive SMEs that meet the SME definition, with a maximum of 249 employees and a turnover of no more than €50 million and/or a balance sheet total of no more than €43 million. Foundations, associations and other institutions that meet the conditions can also apply for the scheme. It is expected that several tens of thousands of companies and organizations will be eligible.
The subsidy is based on modeled consumption and price data and therefore not on the actual use and current price of energy. This allows applications to be processed more quickly. The gas and electricity consumption is partly determined on the basis of the average historical consumption. This information is requested from the network operators. The minimum part that companies pay themselves, the so-called threshold price, is € 1.19 per m³ for gas and € 0.35 per kWh for electricity. To calculate the subsidy, we continue to work with a maximum price for gas (€3.19 per m³) and electricity (€0.95 per kWh). Entrepreneurs who qualify for the TEK receive a maximum of 50% of the difference between the threshold price and the maximum price. After a positive decision, entrepreneurs receive an advance within two weeks. Entrepreneurs must submit a determination request no later than 31 May 2024, after which the final subsidy will be determined.
Information for entrepreneurs
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) implements the TEK scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Requests can be submitted and more information can be found on the rvo.nl website. For information and personal advice, entrepreneurs can also contact the Energieloket of the Chamber of Commerce at kvk.nl/energieloket. The aforementioned websites also contain more information about the subsidies and schemes that companies can use to improve sustainability and save energy.
Applications for TEK are possible from March 21, 2023 (09:00) to October 2, 2023 (17:00).
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