A reduction of 200 euros will be granted by the federal government to those who heat themselves with oil. This is one of the measures that should enable Belgians to reduce their energy bills. One out of two Walloons is concerned.
Since Tuesday morning, many delivery people have also been “assaulted” with questions from their customers to find out when and how they will be able to take advantage of this financial assistance.
“It was announced in the media, but without yet knowing the terms. The concern is so great at the level of the people. We are bombarded with questions”, confides Bernard Ory, the director of a fuel oil resale company.
According to our information, this check for 200 euros (including VAT) is provided for by an automatic reduction in his fuel oil bill, from January 1 to December 31. It is therefore also retroactive. No need to cancel his order. This measure will only take place once and concerns the main residence. Objective: relieve the portfolio of households who have seen the price of heating oil rise in recent days.
“The big worry is that the national price and prices are in the hands of speculators”, says Bernard Ory. “There are more than 95% of the transactions concerning oil which are made by people who never touch oil either directly or indirectly. They are the ones who completely disrupt the market.”
If the practical modalities are not yet defined, one thing is certain, this measure will be managed by a federal authority in order to avoid fraud. In Wallonia, one inhabitant in two heats with oil. “Indeed, there are checks prior to the granting of this check which must be carried out. The main one is the notion of the main residence, but it is also necessary to check that the citizen does not request 1, 2, 20 or 30 checks following”says Olivier Neirynck, the technical director of the Belgian federation of fuel and fuel traders.
The date of submission of the files is not yet known. It will be at the end of the negotiations scheduled for tomorrow between the Minister of the Economy and the Federation of Fuel Traders.