Energy licenses

Are you interested in supplying energy in the Netherlands? In some situations, you will need a license. This page has been created for market participants that do not understand Dutch. This page provides a brief overview of the relevant regulations and procedures regarding license applications. On the Dutch pages, you will find detailed information regarding the supply of electricity, natural gas (in Dutch) or heat (in Dutch).

Non-Dutch market participants that wish to file a license application with ACM are advised to seek the assistance of a Dutch-speaking counsel. Although exploratory conversations can, in some cases, be conducted in English, the actual application must be filed in Dutch.

Supply of electricity and/or natural gas

There are two groups of buyers in the Netherlands to whom you can supply electricity and natural gas, which are large-scale users and small-scale users. The difference (in Dutch) between the two types of users is an important factor when determining whether a license is required for the supply of electricity and/or natural gas.

What is a large-scale user?

Large-scale users are customers (usually business customers) with an electricity connection of 3x80A or more, or a natural-gas connection with a capacity larger than 40m3(n)/hr.

What is small-scale user?

Small-scale users are consumers and businesses customers with an electricity connection of up to 3x80A, or a natural-gas connection with a maximum capacity of 40m3(n)/hr.

If you plan on supplying energy to large-scale users only, you will not need a license. If you plan on supplying energy to small-scale users too, you can only do so if you:

Collaborate with a supplier that has a license, in which case you will become a reseller (in Dutch). You will not be considered a supplier under Dutch law.
Have been granted a license (in Dutch) by ACM.

There are several exceptions to this requirement. If you are required to file a license application with ACM for the supply of energy, to find more information (in Dutch) about the requirements and rules.

Applying for an energy license

If you wish to file a license application for the supply of electricity and/or natural gas, we ask you to follow ACM’s step-by-step guide (in Dutch). We ask you to read all of the steps carefully, and to prepare your application properly. That is why you will need to have an exploratory conversation with us before being able to file the application. If your license application is incomplete or does not meet the requirements, your application may not be processed, or it may be rejected.

Processing the energy license application

From the moment your license application has been delivered to ACM by regular mail, ACM will have eight weeks to assess your application and to hand down a decision. In some cases, we need more time, for example in order to get answers to questions. This additional time is added to the initial eight weeks. If that is the case, you will be informed in a timely manner. As soon as the documents of your license application have been received, ACM follows the following procedure:

We check whether your application is complete, and test it against the statutory requirements. If your application is not complete or if it does not meet the requirements, we will give you the opportunity to supplement your application or to adjust parts thereof. If you fail to do so on time, or fail to do so at all, we may turn down your application. ACM will subsequently issue an official decision on whether or not to grant you a license. If the license is granted, you will receive the ‘Decision regarding the grant of a license’. We may attach instructions to such a decision. In addition, you will receive a letter from us, explaining what information you, as a license holder, must, from that moment onwards, submit to us and when. Finally, ACM will publish the decision on its website, after which you can begin your operations as energy supplier.

More information about the application process regarding licenses for the supply of electricity and/or natural gas.

Costs

A license for the supply of energy to small-scale users costs a one-time fee of 1,199 euros per license. So if you need two licenses (electricity and natural gas), you will pay 2,398 euros. Please bear in mind that you will need to pay additional costs for information that you need to submit with your application such as an excerpt from the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KvK), a certificate of non-bankruptcy, an assurance report from an independent accountant, and your registration with the Dutch Foundation for Consumer Complaints Boards (in Dutch: De Geschillencommissie).

Supply of heat

Do you supply heat or hot water to consumers or business customers with a connection of up to 100 Kw (small-scale business customers) or are you planning on doing so? And do you operate one or more heat networks? If so, you will need to register these with us, unless you are a homeowners association (in Dutch: VvE or vereniging van eigenaren) or if you are a lessor (landlord). Learn more about how to register your heat network with ACM.

Furthermore, you will often need a license if you wish to supply individual-building heating and district heating to consumers and small-scale business customers. If you are a homeowners association (VvE) or a lessor, you do not need a license in most cases. You will need to apply for a license if you:

Supply heat to more than 10 customers at the same time, and
Supply over 10,000 gigajoules per year.

If you are required to file an application with ACM for a license for the supply of heat, click here for more information about the requirements. Even if you do not need a license, you will still need to comply with the rules.

On our website about the supply of heat, you can find more information about under what circumstances you do not need to register your heat network, and under what circumstances you do not need a license.

Applying for a heat license

If you wish to apply for a license for the supply of heat, we ask you to follow ACM’s step-by-step guide (in Dutch). We ask you to read all of the steps carefully, and to prepare your application properly. That is why you will need to have an exploratory conversation with us before being able to file the application. If your license application is incomplete or does not meet the requirements, your application may not be processed, or it may be rejected.

Processing the heat license application

More information about the license application process.

Costs

A license for the supply of heat costs a one-time fee of 500 euros. Please bear in mind that you will need to pay additional costs for information that you need to submit with your application such as an excerpt from the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KvK), a certificate of non-bankruptcy, an assurance report from an independent accountant, and your registration with the Dutch Foundation for Consumer Complaints Boards (in Dutch: De Geschillencommissie).