Energy prices: how the government supports entrepreneurs

The high energy prices are affecting everyone in the Netherlands, including entrepreneurs. That is why a price cap has been introduced for most SMEs. This lowers the energy price up to a certain level of consumption. Is your SME an energy-intensive company? You may be eligible for support under the Energy Cost Contribution scheme TEK. The government also wants to reserve funds to help businesses become more sustainable. Read the latest information about the energy measures.

Price cap on energy

All through 2023, a price cap on energy prices will help you pay your company's energy bills. The price cap applies to small users (called 'kleinverbruikers' in Dutch). Check your energy bill to see if you are a small user. You pay a maximum tariff on your usage up to 1,200 m3 (gas) and 2,900 kWh (electricity). The price for gas is €1.45 per m3, and you will pay €0.40 per kWh for electricity. If you use more, you pay the market price on the energy you have consumed extra. The price cap is in effect from 1 January through 31 December 2023. For November and December 2022, you will have received a discount of €190 per month on your energy bill. 

Energy Cost Contribution scheme TEK

Businesses whose energy costs amount to at least 7% of their annual turnover may be eligible for the Tegemoetkoming Energiekosten-regeling (Energy Cost Contribution Scheme, TEK) as of 1 November 2022. The scheme will reimburse businesses for part of the risen energy costs. How much your company will be paid back will be calculated using a threshhold price of €1.19 per m3 gas and €0.35 per kWh electricity. Does your energy contract charge you higher prices? You will be reimbursed up to 50% of the surcharge, with a maximum of €160,000.

TEK conditions

To apply for the TEK scheme, there are several conditions:

• You spend a minimum of 7% of your turnover on energy costs;
• Your energy contract is in the name of your company (so no contracts that are shared with other businesses);
• You have a business energy contract, not a private one;
• Your company meets the EU definition of an SME:
  • you employ fewer than 250 staff
  • your annual turnover does not exceed €50 million
  • your annual balance does not exceed €43 million
• Your business was registered in the Business Register (Handelsregister) at KVK before 1 January 2023.

Apply for the TEK scheme

The TEK scheme offers a temporary support for the energy costs paid between 1 November 2022 and 31 December 2023. Applications for the TEK contribution opened on 21 March 2023 via the Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO (in Dutch). RVO will assess your application and decide whether you are entitled to the TEK contribution. If you are entitled to support, you will receive an advance of 35% of the maximum subsidy within 5 days. How much support you get depends on your business situation and energy consumption. Learn more about how the TEK support is calculated (in Dutch).

Are you unable to bridge the period until your first application? If you meet the conditions for the TEK scheme, you can apply for a tax payment extension for your VAT and wage tax from the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration). The Belastingdienst will shortly announce more detailed information and conditions. The tax payment extension will be granted on a customised basis - this means the Belastingdienst will look at each case individually, to see which solution will work best.

Government stimulates sustainability efforts

BMKB Groen

The more sustainable your company is, the less energy you use, making you less susceptible to energy price fluctuations. The government introduces the 'BMKB Groen', or in English SME credit scheme Green, to help SMEs make their business more sustainable. The BMKB Groen scheme will provide a guarantee of a maximum of 67.5% of credit you apply for to make your business more sustainable. The government guarantees your creditor that they will, if necessary, pay that percentage of your loan. This means the bank will be more willing to lend you more money based on your collateral. You use the BMKB Groen scheme for investments to make your business premises or assets more sustainable. If your business is an SME with no more than 250 staff, you can use the BMKB-G scheme, as it is also known. Ask your financier to apply for the subsidy at RVO.

More money for EIA, MIA, and Vamil

The government has also allotted more money to the subsidy schemes EIA, MIA, and Vamil. These schemes allow entrepreneurs to deduct costs made for making their business more sustainable from their income tax.