Everyone has the right to affordable energy. Therefore, the municipality intends to establish a public heating company together with Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) and NetVerder. With this new heating company, the municipality aims to provide homes and other buildings with sustainable, affordable, and reliable heat. This marks a concrete step in accelerating the heat transition in the city. However, the national government must ensure that the conditions are in place so that heat remains affordable. The proposal, which is now being presented to the municipal council, aligns with the proposed Collective Heating Act, which stipulates that heating companies must be predominantly in public hands.

The plan is for the municipality to become a third owner after a positive council decision, alongside EBN and NetVerder. This ensures that the municipality has influence over important decisions that need to be made, such as where the heating network will be established first, which sustainable sources will be used, and how the collaboration with residents will be shaped. The heating company will gradually connect neighborhoods to a sustainable heating network. Over the next ten years, the heating company could connect 24,000 Hague homes.

What does this mean for residents?

For residents, this represents a clear step towards a natural gas-free future. For large parts of The Hague, a heating network is the best solution. With a public heating company, residents can expect transparent prices and a favorable ratio between fixed and variable costs. Additionally, the municipality does not want the heating network to cost more than gas heating. Furthermore, resident initiatives can still develop their own heating solutions and will receive support from the municipality in their development.

Legislation as a safeguard for affordability

The national government is currently working on legislation that will ensure that tariffs remain fair and affordable. This has been announced by the Minister of Climate and Green Growth. A guarantee fund has also been promised by the national government, which will allow a public heating company to borrow money at low interest rates. This will keep the costs for establishing heating networks limited. Additionally, there may be extra subsidies for residents who need to adapt their homes for connection to the heating network.

In short: for an affordable heating rate, fixed charges, and contributions for connection costs, the intended legislation is necessary. Only if that is arranged will the college be willing to invest in a Hague heating company. EBN can only join if the Collective Heating Act is passed and the Minister, as intended, designates EBN as the National Heating Participation.

What’s next?

The starting point is that all three partners will each contribute one-third of the equity. The municipality of The Hague is currently reserving 30 million euros for the establishment of the public heating company.
The coming months will see the plan for the heating company further developed. This will include aspects such as organization, collaboration with residents, costs, and planning per neighborhood. Only after that will the final decision on the establishment follow.