Home » Business » Municipalities are concerned about the switch to Gazprom | Inland

Municipalities are concerned about the switch to Gazprom | Inland

In April, Minister Rob Jetten for Climate and Energy announced that municipalities that are affiliated with Gazprom have until October 10 to switch gas suppliers. The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) hopes that the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate will help with this. However, the ministry says that is not its job.

Municipalities say in the survey that they often work together to find a new gas supplier. The Frisian municipalities of Achtkarspelen and Tytsjerksteradiel are critical of the minister. “What the minister does not answer is how we are going to pay the price difference between 18 cents and 3 euros,” a spokesperson said. The Frisian authorities are united in the Cooperative Public Lighting & Energy Fryslân (OVEF).

The municipality of Hilversum also indicates that the current high gas prices are a problem. “In addition, there are few business suppliers,” says a spokesperson. The speed with which a new gas supplier has to be found is also a cause for concern.

Risk

The municipality of The Hague says in a letter to the city council that there is still a risk that other gas suppliers will not register for the tender. As a result, there is no security of gas supply from October 2022, according to the board. However, the municipality remains committed to guaranteeing gas.

Most municipalities say that residents will not notice the higher gas prices. Nieuwegein does say that it will include the extra costs in the budget. “It is still unclear what citizens will notice.” A spokesperson for the municipality of Brummen states that the higher prices ultimately have consequences for the residents. “The costs of our energy are four to five times higher with a new contract,” according to the Gelderland municipality.

The municipality of Roermond says that the contract will expire in December of this year. She had already found a new gas supplier: Vattenfall. Because the Limburg municipality wants to avoid extra costs, it hopes to be able to sit out the contract with Gazprom until the end of the year. With higher costs, entrance fees for the swimming pool and the municipal museum may go up.

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