Towards 8 distribution system operators in Flanders from 1 January 2025
From 1 January 2025, the landscape of distribution system operators for electricity and natural gas in Flanders will change. Due to the Energy Decree, there are mergers of and area exchanges among the distribution system operators. The name changes of the various distribution system operators will also take effect then. As a result, from 1 January 2025, there will be only 8 distribution system operators instead of 10.
New rules from the Energy Decree
The realignment is the result of decisions in the Flemish government's Energy Decree. The following requirements are imposed on distribution system operators for electricity and natural gas:
- Each distribution system operator must have a contiguous geographical area.
- Each city or municipality must now have the same distribution system operator for electricity and natural gas.
- A distribution system operator must have at least 200,000 connected customers.
With this, the Flemish government aims to achieve further efficiency in the energy landscape.
To comply with the Energy Decree, the participating cities and municipalities of the various distribution system operators have taken the necessary decisions over the past two years.
This is the alphabetical list of the situation as of 1 January:
- Fluvius Antwerp
- Fluvius Halle-Vilvoorde
- Fluvius Imewo
- Fluvius Kempen
- Fluvius Limburg
- Fluvius Middle Flanders
- Fluvius West
- Fluvius Zenne-Dijle
.png "The landscape of electricity and natural gas distribution system operators from 1/2025 + merger municipalities")
Minimal impact on services to our customers
Fluvius remains the operating company for all grid operators in Flanders. This means that the contact point for our customers remains the same and service is guaranteed.
The mergers of the distribution system operators and the municipal mergers take effect at the same time. Customers falling under a new distribution system operator as a result of the changes will be charged a different network tariff. Network tariffs differ from one network operator to another. Each network area is slightly different and each network operator has its own (investment) policy. Therefore, costs differ between network operators and network tariffs also differ depending on the network area in which you live. The 2025 network tariffs for the 8 distribution system operators are not yet known. Energy regulator VREG will decide on them in the course of December.
To ensure that our customers with a classic meter at one of the new distribution system operators receive the correct final bill with the new network tariffs, they will this month receive an invitation for additional meter reading via letter or e-mail. As a result, we do not have to work with estimates and the final bill is immediately correct.
Customers with a conventional meter and solar panels will only receive an invitation if they also have gas. The invitation then only concerns a meter reading of the gas meter.
Customers with a digital meter do not have to do anything; the new tariffs are automatically settled correctly.
More info on our website.
Lara Lammens