Acm.nl uses cookies to analyze how the website is used, and to improve the user experience. Read more about cookies

PostNL has16.4 percent additional headroom to increase the tariffs for 2020 of the basic set of postal services

Based on the relevant statutory rules, Dutch postal operator PostNL is given additional tariff headroom to raise the tariffs of the basic set of postal services for 2020. These services include the delivery of single-piece letters and parcels. The additional tariff headroom is 16.4 percent.

The purpose of these statutory rules is that consumers and businesses do not pay too much for mail delivery services, while, at the same time, PostNL is able to provide the basic set of postal services (also called the ‘universal service obligation’) in a profitable manner. The statutory rules do not take into account the effects of, for example, PostNL’s cost reduction programs. In the past few years, PostNL did not take full advantage of the tariff headroom when setting the tariffs for the basic set of postal services. 

Henk Down, Member of the Board of ACM, comments: “The additional tariff headroom is connected to the further decline in the number of letter mail items, and the inflation. The fewer letters are sent, the higher the tariffs are allowed to be.”

PostNL's tariff proposal

As ACM has determined the tariff headroom, PostNL can now submit a tariff proposal for 2020. ACM will subsequently assess whether these tariffs fall within the tariff headroom. Therefore, the tariffs of PostNL, for example, for stamps, metered mail, and individual parcels for 2020, will become clear later this year.

PostNL has sole responsibility for the basic set of postal services

PostNL is the only postal operator in the Netherlands that is responsible for the basic set of postal services (the universal service obligation). These services include the delivery of single-piece letters and parcels, registered mail, and international bulk mail (letters and parcels), among other services.

See also

14-08-2019 Decision on tariff headroom for universal service obligation 2020 (in Dutch)