energy
The Flemish energy regulator Vreg has imposed a heavy fine on Fluvius because the grid operator is late in installing digital meters. Fluvius does not agree with the decision and goes to the Council of State.
Families that install solar panels must quickly receive a digital meter. Fluvius has 90 or 180 days to do this. But according to the Flemish energy regulator Vreg, the grid operator does not comply with this deadline for many families. The regulator examined almost 25,000 registrations of new installations between January and October 2022. In 48 percent of the cases investigated, there was no valid reason for the late placement.
That is why the watchdog Fluvius imposes an administrative fine of more than 51,000 euros. Fluvius does not agree with the fine and points out the difficult circumstances in which it has to roll out the digital meter. “As a result of the Covid crisis, we faced a temporary stop in the rollout. The ruling of the Constitutional Court on the reversing counter in 2021 had a negative impact on social support for our meters. The war in Ukraine and the economic recovery after the pandemic led to global material and supply problems, including among our suppliers. Finally, the rollout was also delayed during 2022 to avoid potential safety issues,” Fluvius summarizes.
De Vreg already imposed a fine of 700,000 euros on Fluvius in July 2022 because the grid operator failed to enable monthly settlements for natural gas. (belga)
