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Factsheet for measure NL-2022-45/2959 Updated – measures in Netherlands

Energy Costs Contribution Scheme for energy-intensive SMEs

Tegemoetkoming Energiekosten-regeling (TEK)

Country Netherlands , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 01 November 2022 – 02 October 2023
Context War in Ukraine, Green Transition, Restructuring Support Instruments
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category N/A
– Support for energy bills
Author Thomas de Winter (Panteia) and Eurofound
Measure added 25 October 2022 (updated 07 November 2023)

Background information

Businesses have been hit hard by sharply rising energy costs. The government has mapped its inventory of options for targeted support for SMEs, which cannot escape high consumption. Energy-intensive SMEs can apply for the Energy Cost Contribution Scheme (TEK). Businesses will be able to apply for the TEK scheme through the Rijksdienst voor ondernemend Nederland (RVO) in the second quarter of 2023.

Content of measure

Businesses (SMEs) that consume a lot of energy and for which energy costs are a large part of their total expenses can apply for the TEK scheme. The scheme compensates for part of the increased energy costs. The TEK scheme is for the period 1 November 2022 to 31 December 2023. The temporary aid is designed to give businesses the opportunity to make their business more sustainable or change their business model to consider the high energy prices of the future. The TEK scheme is 50% of the amount a business pays more in energy costs than the threshold price. The threshold price is €1.19 per m³ of gas and €0.35 per kWh of electricity.

In order to qualify for TEK, an SME must: * be considered energy-intensive * be registered with the Chamber of Commerce * consume at least 5000m³ of gas or 50,000 KWh of electricity per year * have energy costs of at least 12.5% of the company's turnover.

Updates

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

01 May 2023

First usage data has been published by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

19 December 2022

More details regarding the eligibility for the measure have been published by the government. The TEK allowance is for SMEs with up to 250 employees registered in the Dutch Trade Register. To qualify, energy costs must be at least 7% of turnover. The condition that an entrepreneur is only eligible for the TEK if the company has to consume more than 5,000 cubic metres of gas or 50,000 KWh of electricity annually was removed.

Use of measure

The Energy Cost Contribution for Energy-Intensive SMEs (TEK) opened on Tuesday 21 March 2023. After a short start-up period, the first applications have now been granted. As of 1 May 2023, a total of 3,368 TEK applications have been received. Of these, 369 applications have been granted. A total of €3,557,235 has been paid out.

Most applications came from restaurants (492), closely followed by fast food restaurants, cafeterias, ice cream parlours and food stalls (399), field football clubs (213), pubs (171) and tennis clubs (86).

On average, an applicant applied for around €28,500. The total amount requested currently stands at €10.5 million.

As of 30 October 2023, a total of 10,805 TEK applications have been received. Of these, 6,998 applications have been granted. A total of €110,029,324 has been paid out. The measure is now closed.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers SMEs
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Employers' organisations
Company / Companies
National funds

Social partners

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

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

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

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Unknown (no mention of this in the government policy)

Views and reactions

Employers' organisations have already criticized the measure for several reasons. They argue that the amount of subsidy is not high enough to keep businesses afloat. Furthermore, they wonder why the measure is not for larger companies of more than 250 employees, as they also face the same rising costs. Also, they argue that many companies may not meet the 12,5% of turnover-demands, while their costs could increase significantly. Finally, they will check if the measure is equal to measures in other EU countries, to preserve the level-playing-field.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Energy Costs Contribution Scheme for energy-intensive SMEs, measure NL-2022-45/2959 (measures in Netherlands), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/NL-2022-45_2959.html

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