Millions of customers pay too much for electricity

Several energy providers in Belgium charge more for renewable energy, or green power, than they pay for it, resulting in millions of customers paying too much for their electricity, said Flemish parliament member and energy specialist Robert Bothuyne (CD&V) in Het Laatste Nieuws.

Energy suppliers are required to submit a certain number of certificates for green power every year to the Flemish Regulator for Electricity and Gas (VREG). Because the suppliers must purchase the certificates, they pass the cost on to their customers. "But by no means is there meant to be a profit made here," according to Bothuyne.

Based on a 2013 report on the green certificates submitted to VREG by electricity suppliers, Bothuyne concluded that “all together, some energy suppliers were overcharging by a total of €21 million." Some of the companies named include EDF Luminus, Eni, Lampiris and Essent. 

Bothuyne insists that Flemish energy minister Annemie Turtelboom sit down with VREG to work out a solution.