NMa guarantees energy supply for customers of Trianel Energy

The Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) today issued a decision revoking the license of Trianel Energy (hereafter: Trianel) for the provision of electricity and natural gas to consumers and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Customers of Trianel do not need to be worried since their energy supply is guaranteed. Revoking the license sets in motion a special mechanism which ensures that consumers and SMBs continue to receive electricity and gas, thereby safeguarding security of supply for Trianel customers.

After last week’s bankruptcy of energy company Orro, a second energy supplier has now run into financial trouble. Trianel, too, is no longer able to pay for its purchased energy. Trianel not only supplies energy to small-scale and large-scale consumers. It also does business with undertakings that generate energy on-site (distributed generation) through, for example, cogeneration plants such as market gardeners. In addition, Trianel offers services to businesses without a license of their own (so-called white labels).

Wholesale users, producers, white labels and other businesses
The NMa closely consults with other affected parties in order to prevent problems from occurring at another party as a result of the problems at Trianel. Wholesale users, producers, and other firms that do business with Trianel have been informed directly. A special set of rules apply to the white labels, which allows them to consult with Trianel (or its receiver) through January 9, 2013, about which other firm they can transfer their customer portfolio to.

Consumers (small-scale users)
The NMa stepped in by revoking Trianel’s license to supply energy to small-scale users. Supply of energy is guaranteed in the short run by the transmission system operators TenneT and Gas Transport Services (GTS). It means that Trianel customers will temporarily be unable to switch energy providers themselves. Once they have been transferred to another energy provider, they will be informed thereof. If consumers are unhappy with their assigned provider or with his tariffs or conditions, they can switch to another provider. The normal notice period of 30 days applies in those situations.

The NMa keeps consumers and SMBs informed through www.consuwijzer.nl.