The energy surcharge is granted as special assistance and is distributed among the municipalities via the municipal fund. Municipalities can spend the amount they receive as they wish and do not have to account for it to the government. In theory, they could also spend the amount on other things, the spokesman for Minister Schouten acknowledges.
“However, the minister is counting on municipal councils to ensure that the money ends up in the right place,” her spokesperson said.
An additional advantage of the energy surcharge is that municipalities get a picture of a group of poor people that they could not reach before. Because the energy surcharge involves a relatively large amount and is also freely disposable, more people are drawn to it in some cities than other schemes.
Washing machine
In Rotterdam, on average, 50 percent of the people who are entitled to an extra arrangement, for example to buy a washing machine if the old one is broken, use it, but more than 60 percent have now received or paid the energy allowance.
Until the end of this year, people can submit an application for the energy allowance to their municipality. The exact end date varies per municipality.
–
