DTe: Four Companies Refused Supply Licence for Green Electricity

The Office for Energy Regulation (DTe) has decided not to process the applications for licences to supply green electricity of four companies. These companies are ONS Energy Services B.V., Electrabel Nederland N.V., Spark Energy N.V. and Caplare B.V., which is currently in the process of incorporation. These companies to date have not complied with repeated requests by the regulator to provide the data necessary to assess the licence applications.

The energy companies are required to supply these data so that DTe can assess whether the companies have the necessary organisational, financial and technical qualities required to carry out their task properly, namely the supply of electricity. DTe carries out this assessment to guarantee that the supply of electricity takes place in a reliable manner and subject to fair conditions.

In November 2001, the Minister of Economic Affairs, on the basis of the Electricity Act of 1998, issued a policy rule, in accordance with which companies may apply for a licence to supply green electricity. Without such a licence, companies are prohibited from entering into contracts with consumers. If companies nevertheless supply green electricity without a licence, DTe may not only take measures (binding instructions or an order subject to a penalty), but may also inform the Public Prosecution Service of this offence. After all, an infringement of this prohibition is a punishable offence.

Once the companies have provided the information, their applications will be processed.

An overview of the licences issued to supply green electricity is obtainable from DTe's website.