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Am I entitled to compensation if the electricity or gas supply is cut off?

Have you had a problem with your energy supply and/or have you suffered a loss as a result? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. First of all, you need to find out who is responsible: your supplier or your distribution system operator?

  • If your energy supply is cut off because of an administrative error on the part of your supplier, you can claim compensation from them.
  • Do you think the power cut or the loss suffered was caused by a problem on the energy network? If so, fill in an application for compensation and send it to Sibelga (see contact data on the form, in French).

Compensation in certain cases

The law sets out the terms and conditions, timescales and amounts of any compensation for the failure to supply energy and the resultant loss. For the Brussels-Capital Region, this legislation is laid down in:

Read these legal texts carefully. Depending on the cause of the power cut or the loss suffered, send your application for compensation to your supplier or your distribution system operator.

Applying for compensation from your supplier

You can request compensation for the failure to supply electricity and/or natural gas due to an administrative error on the part of your supplier (if you change supplier, for instance).

For this purpose, fill in the form provided by the supplier on their website (you will usually find it in the ‘Contact’ or ‘Documents’ section). Send this application to your supplier by post, e-mail or fax. If your application fulfils all the conditions, you can obtain compensation within 30 days of receipt.

Applying for compensation from the distribution system operator, Sibelga

You can submit a request for compensation to Sibelga in the following cases:

  • an unscheduled power cut that lasts for more than six consecutive hours (electricity);
  • no energy supply due to an administrative error on the part of Sibelga (electricity or natural gas);
  • no energy supply due to a late connection by Sibelga (electricity or natural gas);
  • direct harm caused by the power cut or the poor quality of the power supply (electricity or natural gas).

Fill in the compensation form (form in French). Don’t forget to check whether you are eligible for one of the four cases listed above, and submit your application within the prescribed deadlines. To do this, carefully re-read the extract of the decree in question (electricity or gas) which is attached to the form.

Then send the completed form to Sibelga, Complaints department, Werkhuizenkaai/Quai des Usines 16, 1000 Brussels. Or you can send it via compensation@sibelga.be or by fax on 02 549 43 34.

If your application fulfils all the conditions, you can obtain compensation within 30 calendar days of receipt of the application.

Compensation: how much?

Fixed amounts of compensation are set by law. The compensation for any physical and/or material harm suffered is calculated on a case-by-case basis.

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