Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA). — © BELGA
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Flemish Energy Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) asks the Flemish Parliament to put pressure on the energy watchdog VREG to adjust the capacity tariff or not to introduce it at all. “The system is full of injustices. I don’t support it,” Demir said on Wednesday in the Flemish hemisphere.
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Farid El Mabrouk
Yesterday at 18:55–
The capacity tariff is a new system for calculating the grid tariffs, which are part of our electricity bill. The intention is to no longer calculate these network tariffs according to full consumption, but largely according to peak consumption. If you use a lot of electricity at the same time, you will pay more. Those who consume more over the day (and night) spread less. The aim of the reform is to reduce the burden on the electricity grid and thus to spread consumption more.
Only the capacity tariff of the VREG is controversial. Especially since Ghent University calculated that electricity will become even more expensive for those who use little. Two-thirds of households would gain, a third – those who consume little – pay more. Please note: the new rate can only be applied to those who have a digital meter. For the others, peak consumption cannot be measured. But still, in times of sky-high energy bills, it is not an obvious message.
(Read on below the photo)
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The VREG announced on Monday that the rate will be postponed for a second time. Instead of this summer, it will not be introduced until early 2023. The watchdog intends to introduce it for sure.
ALSO READ. VREG is considering further postponement of capacity tariff
However, political resistance to it is growing. Virtually all parties in the Flemish Parliament opposed the new system on Wednesday. Energy Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) is also against. “It’s not normal for a retiree living in an apartment to pay more and a family charging two Teslas less,” she says. “That is not explained to you and it is not correct. Adjust that. The way it is now, it won’t happen. I have already said that to the VREG several times.”
However, the Flemish energy regulator is independent and decides autonomously about the tariffs. The Flemish government and Demir have nothing to say about this. The Flemish Parliament does. All political parties are also represented on the board of directors. Demir therefore called on the Flemish Assembly and the various parties to put pressure on them together. “We will have to fight the battle together and increase the pressure on the VREG together.”
ALSO READ. The gas bill defies imagination: have energy measures yielded nothing?
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