BRUSSELS: Belgian residents are paying between 25 and 75 percent more for electricity than residents in the Netherlands, France and Germany.
According to a study by the Federation of Belgian Energy Consumers (Febelic), Belgian companies are paying between 25% and 75% more for their electricity than companies in the Netherlands, France and Germany.
In the study Febeliec looked at how much industrial customers in Belgium were paying for their electricity and compared their electricity bills with bills paid by companies in neighbouring countries.
In 2014 the price paid by industrial customers in Belgium was between 9% and 47% higher than that paid by companies in France, Germany and the Netherlands. However, figures from the first months of this year show that the so-called “energy handicap” has widened still further to between 27% and 73%.
Uncertainty about of the reliability Belgium’s nuclear power stations and the limited availability to import electricity from abroad have seen the price of electricity rise considerably.
In addition higher distribution costs and taxes make electricity dearer still. Energy costs are higher in Wallonia than in Flanders and small companies are more disadvantaged than big firms.
Febeliec wants the government to take measures to ensure that the price of electricity in Belgium reflects electricity prices paid by industrial customers in neighbouring countries. Febeliec says that this would make Belgian industry more competitive.
Febeliec’s Director Peter Claes told the VRT that “The consequences could be dramatic if the relevant authorities don’t take action. Any further delay is playing with fire”.
