Mrs. Rolink from Erica is having a hard time financially. Due to the rising energy prices, she, like thousands of other Drenthe, is getting stuck with her expenses. “Actually, I need new glasses, but that’s not possible at the moment.”
In a thick cardigan and a fleece blanket around the legs, Mrs. Rolink (90) and her daughter Ellis (51) keep themselves warm in the evening. They live together in a small retirement home. “We haven’t turned on the heating yet,” Ellis says. “Normally I would have done that a long time ago. But I don’t dare.” Last week her mother received a bill from the energy company for 300 euros. The fear is great. She has never paid that much.
In addition, a letter from the energy company came yesterday with the new, even higher rates. “I’m dreading it,” sighs ninety-year-old Mrs Rolink. “That I still have to go through this.” Mother and daughter have been watching the little ones for a long time. They take a short shower and get the cheapest groceries at home. “If I can’t even eat something tasty anymore, I don’t know what will.”
To keep a closer eye on costs, Ellis tries to create an account for her mother with energy company Essent. So far without success. “It doesn’t work. I tried to call them yesterday. But they are unreachable. So we have to wait and see what will be debited this month.”
The anger and frustration are great. “It makes me sad that my mother has to be out in the cold. I don’t understand how it can be.” The announced measures from the cabinet come too late for the Rolink family. “They put everyone in debt first and then they fix it.”
“Rutte and Kaag can buy everything they want,” adds Mrs. Rolink, “but not people like us.” She wants to have them visit sometime and show them how she lives. “Then I’ll give them the least I have left.”