Energy prices: how the government supports entrepreneurs

  • KVK Editors
  • Background
  • 28 February 2023
  • Edited 3 January 2024
  • 1 min
  • Managing and growing
  • Sustainability

The high energy prices are affecting everyone in the Netherlands, including entrepreneurs. That is why a price cap has been introduced for most SMEs. This lowers the energy price up to a certain level of consumption. Is your SME an energy-intensive company? The government also wants to reserve funds to help businesses become more sustainable. Read the latest information about the energy measures.

Price cap on energy

All through 2023, a price cap on energy prices helped you pay your company's energy bills. The price cap applied to small users (called 'kleinverbruikers' in Dutch). Check your energy bill to see if you are a small user. You pay a maximum tariff on your usage up to 1,200 m3 (gas) and 2,900 kWh (electricity). The price cap was in effect from 1 January through 31 December 2023. Read more about the price cap on Government.nl.

Energy Cost Contribution scheme TEK

Businesses whose energy costs amount to at least 7% of their annual turnover were eligible for the Tegemoetkoming Energiekosten-regeling (Energy Cost Contribution Scheme, TEK). The scheme reimbursed businesses for part of the energy costs. How much your company was to be paid back was calculated using a threshhold price of €1.19 per m3 gas and €0.35 per kWh electricity. Did your energy contract charge you higher prices? You could be reimbursed up to 50% of the surcharge, with a maximum of €160,000.

TEK conditions

To apply for the TEK scheme, there were several conditions:

  • You spend a minimum of 7% of your turnover on energy costs;
  • Your energy contract is in the name of your company (so no contracts that are shared with other businesses);
  • You have a business energy contract, not a private one;
  • Your company meets the EU definition of an SME:
    • you employ fewer than 250 staff
    • your annual turnover does not exceed €50 million
    • your annual balance does not exceed €43 million
  • Your business was registered in the Business Register (Handelsregister) at KVK before 1 January 2023.

Apply for the TEK scheme

The application period for the TEK contribution closed on 2 October 2023.

BMKB Groen

The more sustainable your company is, the less energy you use, making you less susceptible to energy price fluctuations. The government introduces the 'BMKB Groen', or in English SME credit scheme Green, to help SMEs make their business more sustainable. The BMKB Groen scheme will provide a guarantee of a maximum of 67.5% of credit you apply for to make your business more sustainable. The government guarantees your creditor that they will, if necessary, pay that percentage of your loan. This means the bank will be more willing to lend you more money based on your collateral. You use the BMKB Groen scheme for investments to make your business premises or assets more sustainable. If your business is an SME with no more than 250 staff, you can use the BMKB-G scheme, as it is also known. Ask your financier to apply for the subsidy at RVO.

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