On Tuesday, December 9, the Senate voted on an amendment to the current Heat Act aimed at promoting and safeguarding the transition to collective heat such as district heating. The amendment proposed by outgoing Minister Hermans of Climate and Green Growth was adopted. The factions of GroenLinks-PvdA, Volt, ChristenUnie, CDA, SGP, D66, SP, PvdD, VVD, BBB, Fractie-Van de Sanden, 50PLUS, and OPNL voted in favor; the factions of FVD, PVV, JA21, Fractie-Visseren-Hamakers, and Fractie-Beukering voted against. The Fractie-Walenkamp was absent. A vote was also held on ten motions: two motions were adopted, seven rejected, and one motion will be voted on again on December 16 due to a tie.

Adopted motions

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    The Van Langen-Visbeek et al. motion on supporting municipalities in implementing the law. This motion also had the advice Chamber Opinion.
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    The Crone et al. motion on the rapid introduction of phase 2 of cost-based tariff regulation. This motion had the ministers advice Chamber Opinion.
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    The Visseren-Hamakers motion on informing consumers about the origin of heat in the heating network. This motion also received the ministers advice Chamber Opinion.

Rejected motions

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    The Van Langen-Visbeek et al. motion on a structural budget for heat communities. This motion was discouraged.
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    The Van Aelst-den Uyl et al. motion on connection to a heating network. The motion was discouraged by the minister.
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    The Van Aelst-den Uyl et al. motion on establishing a national fund or solidarity scheme. This motion was discouraged.
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    The Koffeman et al. motion on the tariff for final disconnection. This motion had the advice Chamber Opinion.
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    The Visseren-Hamakers motion on phasing out animal products. The motion was discouraged.
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    The Visseren-Hamakers motion on phasing out non-sustainable heat sources. This motion was also discouraged.

Tie votes

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    The Visseren-Hamakers motion on research into collective heat demand in 2050. This motion had the advice Chamber Opinion.

The Senate will vote again on the bill on Tuesday, December 16. If the votes tie again, the bill will be rejected.

About the Collective Heat Act

The main goals of the outgoing cabinet are to ensure sustainable and reliable heat supply and better protect consumers against high energy costs. Many homes and buildings still use natural gas as a heat source. Collective heat is more sustainable and a step towards achieving climate goals. Furthermore, the Collective Heat Act stipulates that heat companies must be more than 50% owned by governments, such as municipalities or provinces. This way, they have final responsibility for determining the policy of the heat company and heat networks. Currently, collective heat systems are owned by commercial companies.

Additionally, the energy tariff via heat under this bill is more based on the cost of installing and maintaining a collective heat system. Consumers are thus no longer dependent on fluctuating gas prices. This protects customers and heat companies against high energy prices. The cabinet also aims to increase the reliability of the heat system, reducing the chance of disruptions. Moreover, the bill contains specific rules for small collective heat systems, landlords, owners associations, and heat transport managers.