The adjustment is made to make the system legally more robust. The profit will be skimmed from August this year to June next year if it exceeds 130 euros per MWh. The yield remains the same.
The profit surplus contribution is used to skim the profit surplus made by energy producers in this energy crisis due to the skyrocketing energy prices. The proceeds will be used to finance the energy measures that the De Croo government has adopted to support families and businesses, such as the basic energy package of almost 200 euros per month.
The original plan was to skim excess profits between January and November of this year if they exceed EUR 180 per MWh. This was an objective ceiling and was never included in the notifications expressing the budgetary decisions. From December to June, all earnings above 130 euros per MWh would be skimmed.
• Basic package of 1,000 euros of energy for the whole winter
It has now been agreed, at the request of Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (green), to set the cap at 130 euros per MWh for the entire period. That period no longer starts in January, but only in August of this year. This still includes the August price peak. The period still ends in June next year, with the option to extend the system if prices remain high. The De Croo government believes that this makes the system legally more robust. The yield is estimated as before. In addition, there will be a separate ceiling of € 180 per MWh for the production of electricity from biomass, biogas and waste.
The revenue from the excess profit tax itself is still estimated at just over a billion euros for this year and next. If we add to this the higher distribution contribution for nuclear power plants and the contribution from Fluxys, the total amount stands at 3.1 billion euros.
