People in the Netherlands are anxiously awaiting the energy surcharge of 1,300 euros. Mainly by the people who want to make use of the allowance, but also by municipalities. Because many municipalities are ready to pay out the money, but they are waiting for the approval of the bill that makes that compensation possible.
“All my extras are gone and all my buffers are gone,” says Marja de Vries. “I do voluntary work, I receive an allowance for that, I need it to live on. But I would like to have that energy allowance again, so that I can buy new clothes or go to the hairdresser.”
Municipalities are waiting for the new law, only then can the 1,300 euros for this year be paid out. The municipalities were given the option of paying 500 euros of that energy surcharge as an advance to their residents with a low income. The municipalities of Hoogeveen, Emmen, Meppel and Assen, among others, have already paid out 500 euros.
So Marja Westra from Assen also received an advance: “We have had 250 euros twice. We are still waiting for 800 euros. The intention was that we would receive the remaining amount in parts around this time. But when that will happen now is unclear.”
Marja de Vries adds: “It still has to be approved by the Senate and House of Representatives. That will take up the whole month of September anyway. Then we can get the green light in October and then it still has to be paid out. I think we can be happy if it becomes November or December.”
According to the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), many municipalities are prepared to pay the amount, but the bill that should make the allowance possible was only sent to the House of Representatives about two weeks ago.
He won’t deal with it until after the summer. “We are very sorry that this process has been delayed, but we can now do nothing but wait for the law from The Hague,” said the VNG. As long as the law is not in place, the municipalities will not receive any money.
Last year, the energy surcharge could be paid, without an adopted law. This was shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and with that there was “anticipation of a law in an emergency situation” and this could be done without the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) today announced that gas and electricity are still considerably more expensive than a year ago. Despite the falling rates from suppliers and compensation measures from the government.
On average, this is an increase of 37 percent, which would put the annual accounts 630 euros higher. Statistics Netherlands calculated the difference on the basis of the average prices in June. For the average household, these add up to a bill of 2,320 euros per year, while in June 2022 it was still 1,691 euros.
On Prinsjesdag last year it was already announced that there would be another energy surcharge for the most vulnerable households in 2023. That has to be regulated by law and that law is being delayed.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, this is due to students and their entitlement to the allowance. Last year they were initially excluded from the scheme, but in several court cases they were ruled in the right. A solution had to be found first, says SZW at the NOS. That lasted until about two weeks ago. In the end, it was decided that some of those students will receive a limited allowance: students living away from home with a supplementary grant will receive 400 euros this year.
In the meantime, both Marja’s from Assen can do nothing but wait. “The bills will be paid, because I don’t want to be cold or homeless. But this waiting does affect my living money,” says Marja de Vries in conclusion.