News item | 2023-03-20 | 13:15
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) will open the counter for the SME Energy Costs Allowance Scheme (TEK) on Tuesday 21 March. SMEs, for whom energy costs make up a relatively large part of their turnover, can apply for compensation for the increased gas and electricity costs until October 2, 2023.
The TEK can be applied for retroactively for the period from November 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023, via the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Advance to 35% due to falling energy prices
The amount of the allowance that energy-intensive SMEs receive depends on the average prices of electricity and gas in 2023. The calculation of the advance payment is based on the maximum prices for gas and electricity that have already been set. Recent estimates by the Central Planning Bureau (CPB) of energy prices show a significant drop in energy prices for 2023, much more than expected in November 2022. This means that average energy prices for this year are significantly below the maximum prices used for the TEK scheme.
Entrepreneurs who qualify for the TEK receive a percentage of the difference between the threshold price (the minimum part that companies pay themselves) and the maximum price.
Final approval from the European Commission is expected shortly. After this has been received and a positive decision has been made about the application from entrepreneurs, they will receive an advance payment within two weeks. Now that the energy price is lower, SME entrepreneurs run the risk of having to pay back the advance afterwards. That is undesirable. To reduce the risk for entrepreneurs, the advance payment percentage is now being adjusted from 50% to 35%. With this percentage, entrepreneurs are sufficiently compensated in the short term, while limiting the risk that SMEs have received too little compensation if it turns out that energy prices rise during the year.
Information for entrepreneurs
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) implements the TEK scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Applications can be submitted and more information about the scheme 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 Monday, October 2, 2023 (17:00).