Revised Dutch Heat Act in effect

On 1 July 2019, the revised Dutch Heat Act (in Dutch: Warmtewet) came into effect. One important change is that the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) will set multiple tariffs that are associated with the supply of heat. Furthermore, lessors and homeowner associations that supply their own heat will no longer fall under the Dutch Heat Act.

ACM caps several heat tariffs. For example, ACM has set tariff caps on the supply of heat at various temperatures, as well as for the different types of heat exchangers, for connections, and for disconnections. The new tariffs will take effect starting in 2020.

Lessors and homeowner associations that supply their own heat will no longer fall under the Dutch Heat Act. Customers that receive heat from lessors or homeowner associations already have protection under tenancy law or under their homeowner association’s provisions.

Some elements have been included in the Dutch Heat Act. One such example is the compensation in case of an interruption. According to the revised act, consumers are now always entitled to compensations, even if such compensations are not mentioned in their contracts with their heat suppliers. In case of an interruption that lasts longer than 8 hours, consumers will receive a compensation of 35 euros per connection. If an interruption lasts longer than 12 hours, they will receive an additional compensation of 20 euros for each continuous 4-hour period after the initial period.

You can find the most important changes to the revised Dutch Heat Act on acm.nl and consuwijzer.nl, ACM’s consumer information portal:

• Buyers and the Dutch Heat Act (in Dutch)
• Suppliers and the Dutch Heat Act (in Dutch)
• District heating and individual-building heating (in Dutch)