Energy-intensive SMEs will receive compensation from November

SMEs that spend at least 12.5 percent of their turnover on energy will receive a maximum compensation of 50 percent of the increase in energy costs above a set threshold price from 1 November. A maximum of 160,000 euros per company is available via the new Energy Costs Compensation scheme (TEK).

The TEK scheme will run from November 2022 to December 2023. The government expects the costs to rise to 3.1 billion euros. Because the scheme must first be approved by the European Commission, the TEK scheme will not be opened until the second quarter of next year. Until then, SMEs (up to 250 employees) can submit a request for a deferral to the Tax Authorities. Banks and financial institutions are also said to be more flexible with requests for advances, for example.

The Hague thinks that several tens of thousands of companies qualify for the TEK scheme. However, in addition to spending more than 12.5 percent on energy costs in their turnover, companies must also have an annual consumption of 5,000 cubic meters of gas or 50,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. The threshold price has been set at 1.19 euros per cubic meter of gas and 0.35 euros per kilowatt hour of electricity. Furthermore, a European maximum amount of 62,000 euros in support applies to agricultural companies.

The scheme is implemented by the RVO. The organisation has now information page where more information about the TEK will appear. The Chamber of Commerce can also helping entrepreneurs.

It is not excluded that the scheme will be extended after 2023: against RTL Z State Secretary Van Rij of Finance indicated that an extension is a possibility if there is an economic need for it.