The government has already taken various measures to reduce energy bills. This happened with the extension and extension of the social rate for the lowest incomes and the reduction of VAT on gas and electricity. But a system that, as in Greece, skims off excess profits from energy companies and allows those revenues to flow back to the citizens, remains to be seen for the time being.
De Sutter points out in VTM NIEUWS that such a system is “a difficult legal exercise”. In addition, according to the minister, Europe has announced that it will take the initiative in that area and it is therefore logical to first “see what comes out of that”.
“If that doesn’t go fast enough or not far enough, the ambition is to put our own Belgian system on the table by the end of the year to make profits and to skim off surpluses.” It is up to Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Green) to work this out. “It is not possible that in times of crisis companies make extra profits that run out of steam,” said De Sutter. “That has to go back to the consumer.”