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PostNL is allowed to raise tariffs by 8 percent for 2017

Dutch postal company PostNL is allowed to raise the tariffs for a basic set of postal services by 8 percent on average. This set is also called the universal service obligation (USO). These USO tariffs may be raised even further, in case PostNL did not fully use its ability to raise the tariffs in 2016. This has been announced today by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). In its decision, ACM has taken into account that the number of letters that PostNL has to deliver is decreasing.

ACM ensures that buyers (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 in a cost-effective way. The reasonable return is determined by the Dutch legislature.

PostNL has submitted a tariff proposal for 2017, which ACM is currently assessing. Later this year, PostNL will determine the tariffs for, for example, stamps and registered mail in 2017. If PostNL earns too much profit on the basic set of postal services, the tariff headroom will be lowered automatically.

PostNL has sole responsibility for a basic set of postal services

ACM regulates a basic set of postal services of PostNL, because it is the only postal company in the Netherlands that is responsible for this set. For example, PostNL is obliged to deliver mail five days a week in the whole country. For these services, PostNL is only allowed to recoup the costs, and a reasonable level of return that has been determined by the legislature.