13-02-2024
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The financially favorable arrangement for owners of solar panels will be maintained. No majority has been found in the Senate for the bill by outgoing climate minister Jetten to gradually phase out the scheme from 2025.
The two largest factions, BBB and GroenLinks-PvdA, have announced that they believe the arrangement should remain. Last week it became clear during the debate that these parties, which had voted against in the House of Representatives, also had major reservations in the Senate.
According to Groenlinks-PvdA, the purchase of solar panels will be out of reach for people who have less to spend if the netting scheme is abolished. BBB sees the reduction as a ‘pure tax measure’ by the government to raise 2.8 billion euros in the coming years.
“Think of people with a small wallet”
The Consumers’ Association responded positively to the rejection of the bill. Phasing out as suggested in the proposal would have “represented a brake on the energy transition.” The spokeswoman said that there must be a solid alternative before the scheme can be abolished. This should also include tenants and homeowners with a small wallet. “Just before solar panels came within reach, they were in danger of being cut off.”
The association emphasizes that they are not against the phasing out of the netting scheme, but believe that there should be more certainty for consumers about the payback period for solar panels.
Energy companies disappointed: “Customers without solar panels bear costs”
Vattenfall and Eneco regret that the Senate has not adopted the bill for the gradual phasing out of the netting scheme. Vattenfall says it welcomes the installation of solar panels on roofs, “but the almost 2.6 million solar panel owners in the Netherlands currently only consume a quarter of the self-generated solar power in their own home,” according to the energy supplier.
“Supplying back costs more and more money because at times when the solar power is returned, the value is much lower – at times even negative – than the supplied power, while these are offset with each other through netting.” These costs are mainly borne by customers without solar panels, Vattenfall explains.
Phasing out netting can actually be an incentive for solar panel owners to consume their own generated solar power themselves, according to the energy company. This is especially true at times when a lot is being produced, such as in the spring and summer months.
“Nettering can increase power grid overload”
“We maintain a scheme whereby customers with solar panels receive a substantial financial compensation for the electricity generated, but which does not encourage them at all to immediately consume the generated electricity,” Eneco responds. “This could further increase the overload on our electricity grid.” The energy supplier believes the scheme is outdated, because it was introduced at the time to encourage the generation of solar energy by homeowners by reducing the then very long payback period. Solar panels can now be recouped in seven years without the scheme, says Eneco. ANP/NOS/Consumer Association