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Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure NL-2022-1/2237 Updated – measures in Netherlands

More money for households to take energy-saving measures

Meer geld voor energiebesparende maatregelen huishoudens "

Country Netherlands , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 01 January 2022 – 31 December 2022
Context COVID-19, War in Ukraine, Green Transition
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future
– Support for spending, stimulus packages
Author Thomas de Winter (Panteia) and Eurofound
Measure added 10 May 2022 (updated 12 June 2023)

Background information

Because of rising energy costs, the government wants to help households make their homes more sustainable. By subsidising energy-saving measures and setting aside money for an information campaign about energy consumption, the government is encouraging low energy consumption with the hopes that people can spend less on energy.

This measure is part of a package of measures that affect the state budget. The government funds the package with extra gas revenue and remaining funds from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR). There is no legal adjustment required.

Other measures which are part of the set of measures to partly compensate for rising energy costs for households include Reduction in VAT on energy and excise duty on petrol and diesel , Tax reduction on the energy bill and reduction of tax rate on electricity in 2022 and Extra energy allowance for lower incomes .

Content of measure

At the end of 2021, the government decided to earmark €150 million to help households become more sustainable. In March 2022, an additional €150 million was provided to take extra energy-saving measures. The funds are deployed via municipalities. These measures reduce energy costs, contribute to sustainability efforts, and make households more resilient to future price fluctuations. The measure is a fundamental and structural approach to the national insulation programme.

More than 750,000 owner-occupied homes are eligible for the structural insulation measures. Low-income households are specifically targeted by these funds. One-off energy allowances can range from €200 to €800 per household.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

17 March 2023

The government is accelerating the provision of €200 million to tackle energy poverty by deploying energy fixers. Energy fixers are people who help vulnerable households in rented and owner-occupied houses reduce their energy consumption in the short term through energy advice and small- to medium-sized energy-saving measures.

Use of measure

No data available.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Does not apply to businesses Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Local / regional government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

No involvement.

Sources

  • 21 March 2022: Package of measures to cushion the impact of rising energy prices and inflation (www.government.nl)
  • 17 March 2023: Extra inzet energiefixers en lokale aanpak isolatie in strijd tegen energiearmoede (www.rijksoverheid.nl)

Citation

Eurofound (2022), More money for households to take energy-saving measures, measure NL-2022-1/2237 (measures in Netherlands), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/NL-2022-1_2237.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.