The exact aspect of the measures depends on the various consultations between the ministries involved and the energy sector. Final clarity is expected next Friday at the earliest.
Purchasing power
According to the people involved, hard work is being done to do something about the “left or right” energy bill. There is a plan on the table to mitigate the worst effects through municipalities. According to one interested person, one option is to pay the energy surcharge of 1,300 euros in 2023 this year.
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Until recently, the cabinet insisted that little was possible this year. Proposals to distribute an energy surcharge through municipalities were also deemed impractical.
emergency fund
In addition, an emergency fund is set up to prevent energy cuts. In The Hague there is talk of an amount of at least 150 million euros. The exact size of the fund is still under discussion.
The energy companies themselves could also help financially support people who can no longer pay their bills. Agreements on this could be made with the main actors. But there are also dozens of smaller energy companies that are less interested in such support.
If someone is in debt counseling, it is forbidden to cut someone off. But it’s too late, the people involved say. This is why the cabinet is discussing the possibility of protecting people first: if someone cannot pay the bill, the emergency fund would be used.
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“Panic pervades The Hague”
“The Netherlands panic over energy bills is finally starting to seep into politics in The Hague,” says political journalist Fons Lambie. “You can see behind the scenes of the governing parties, but also in the cabinet itself. The ministries involved have always insisted that this year nothing more was possible. This is not sustainable, you can hear it behind the scenes. The fear is that the Netherlands must face a veritable tsunami of debt “.
It refers to the crisis of the crown, when even important emergency measures were rigged in great haste.
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