The federal energy premium of €196 for gas and electricity will not yet be available in November but will be doubled in December to compensate, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced on Monday on La Première (RTBF).
According to De Croo, the delay is due to technical problems at some suppliers. "The cheque itself will be ready in December, so a month late, but the total amount will be the same," the Prime Minister confirmed. "We tried everything possible to ensure that the allowance would be on the invoice from November, but that proved impossible. It is a measure that is difficult to implement because the invoices have to be checked thoroughly."
The so-called 'cheaper basic energy package' for the months of November and December is part of the extra energy support to families decided by the government in September. It amounts to an allowance of €135 a month for gas and €61 a month for electricity.
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The cheaper basic package, intended for low and middle incomes, is settled on the advance bills and is only provided for variable energy contracts and for all new fixed contracts concluded or renewed after 1 October 2021.
During the budget preparation, the government decided last month to extend the concession until March 2023. This will provide households with almost €1,000 assistance with energy bills.
