City Council Approves: Utrecht Becomes Shareholder of HVC

02-26-2026

By joining HVC, Utrecht immediately gains influence over the development of heat networks, the deployment of sustainable heat sources, and affordability for residents. HVC is fully publicly owned and does not pay dividends to shareholders. Instead, profits are reinvested in new activities that benefit the participating governments.

For residents, there will be no immediate changes to their heat supply. In the coming period, HVC will first focus on heat networks for new construction projects in Utrecht. Expansion to existing neighborhoods will follow. In the longer term, this will provide the city with a consistent, sustainable, and affordable heat network, where public interests come first. Through public control, Utrecht can steer on reliability, affordability, and a gradual transition per neighborhood, with attention to residents and entrepreneurs.

Waste processing also in public hands

With the shareholding, the processing of Utrechts residual and organic waste also comes into public hands. Residents will continue to dispose of their waste in the same way. Waste collection remains the responsibility of the municipality of Utrecht itself and will remain so. HVC is also a waste processing company and works on further sustainability of waste processing. The municipality gains more influence behind the scenes on sustainability and cost control in the waste chain.

New phase of heat transition

Utrecht aims to be natural gas-free by 2050 at the latest, as agreed in the national Climate Agreement. This is necessary to combat climate change and strongly reduce CO2 emissions. The choice for a public heat company fits with the new Collective Heat Act, which stipulates that heat networks must largely be publicly owned and remain affordable for residents.

HVC collaborates with its shareholders in the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, Flevoland, Friesland, and Utrecht on developing a circular economy and the energy transition. With this council decision, the city of Utrecht takes the step to join as a new shareholder. HVC has extensive experience with the construction and operation of heat systems and with making waste processing more sustainable. By joining an existing public party, Utrecht can make faster progress than if a completely new municipal heat company were to be established.