Electricity is transmitted to your home via a network. Managing and maintaining this network costs money. This is why a distribution cost is charged.
The distribution cost is one of the three main parts of your energy bill.
The distribution cost included in your bill covers not only the actual distribution cost, but also other costs that the distribution system operator (link in French) has to collect and pass on to the relevant parties.
In Brussels, the distribution system operator is Sibelga.
The distribution cost in your bill consists of four main elements:
Some figures for the Brussels energy network:
By order of the regional authorities, the distribution system operator also has to provide specific public services:
The distribution cost also includes certain taxes and levies that the distribution system operator has to pass on to various government bodies.
This contribution is used to fund the dismantling of all nuclear research infrastructure belonging to the state (Mol) and the functioning of the federal energy regulator, the CREG.
The regional contribution is used to fund the energy grants, the management of the green power certificates and the functioning of the Brussels energy regulator, Brugel.
The distribution system operator pays a fee to the municipalities to be able to use the public highway for its electricity cables.
The transmission cost covers the cost of the infrastructure need to carry the energy from the generating station or from the border to the Brussels distribution network.
This cost is passed on in full by the distribution system operator to the transmission system operator, Elia. (For more information, see: How is the energy market organised?)
Depending on the energy supplier, this may be indicated separately on your bill or included in the cost.
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