Electricity Bills May Rise in November Due to New Grid Tariffs

Electricity bills for Belgian households and small businesses may increase by approximately 10% in November due to a shift in how high-voltage network transport costs are distributed.

Tariff reductions for energy-intensive companies

The CREG is modifying the tariff methodology for the high-voltage grid, which governs the costs of transporting electricity via high-tension lines for the 2024-2027 period. Under the new rules, companies that maintain stable and anticyclical consumption profiles will receive a reduction in their transport tariffs.

These “anticyclical” profiles refer to large-scale consumers that use electricity consistently throughout the day, thereby contributing to the overall stability of the national power grid. According to Le Soir, major industrial players such as BASF and Nyrstar fall into this category.

The Belgian government is implementing these reductions as part of a broader policy to maintain the international competitiveness of energy-intensive industries.

Impact on household and small business bills

Because the total cost of grid transport must be covered, the discounts granted to large industrial users will be offset by higher costs for other consumers. The CREG indicates that households and smaller businesses that do not qualify for the reduction will see their transport tariffs rise by about 10% starting in November.

The regulator notes that this increase applies only to a specific portion of the total electricity bill. Transport tariffs for the high-voltage network represent approximately 3% of the total bill for average households.

Possible cancellation of price hikes via surpluses

The planned November increase is not yet guaranteed. The CREG has stated it does not rule out the possibility that network tariffs will remain unchanged due to existing financial surpluses.

Current data shows surpluses amounting to several hundred million euros, representing overpayments made by households and businesses on previous tariffs. The regulator is considering whether these funds can be used to compensate for the planned tariff hike. A final decision on the use of these surpluses is expected at a later date.