Suppliers - Supply licence request

WHEN IS A SUPPLY LICENCE NEEDED?

In order to be able to supply electricity and/or natural gas to end users in Flanders, a supply licence is required, which involves the supply of electricity and/or natural gas through the distribution network, the supply of green power through a direct line, as well as the supply of electricity generated by a qualitative combined heat and power facility through a direct line.

WHO ISSUES SUPPLY LICENCES?

Supply licences for Flanders are exclusively issued by the VREG.

WHERE SHOULD I SUBMIT MY SUPPLY LICENCE REQUEST?

Requests are to be addressed to:

Vlaamse Reguleringsinstantie voor de Elektriciteits- en Gasmarkt
Graaf de Ferrarisgebouw
Koning Albert II-laan 20 bus 19
B- 1000 Brussels

WHAT DATA SHOULD MY REQUEST INCLUDE?

General

The request for a supply licence for electricity or natural gas must respectively meet the conditions included in the following:

Flemish Government Decree of 15 June 2001 on supply licences for electricity (Dutch)
Flemish Government Decree of 11 October 2002 on the administration of the natural gas market (Dutch)

Candidate-suppliers can contact the VREG for an exploratory conversation about the general situation and regulations on the Flemish energy market, the supplier's obligations and the template.

Template for the request of a power or a natural gas supply licence

Word (Dutch)
PDF (Dutch)
Template for a suitable bank statement (Dutch)

HOW IS MY SUPPLY LICENCE REQUEST PROCESSED?

First and foremost your request will be checked for completeness. If this is not the case, you will be advised by registered letter within one month of receipt of the request. This letter will state why the request is incomplete and the period awarded to complete your request. If the file is not completed within the allotted time, your request will expire and will no longer be processed. If the request is complete, you will receive a written acknowledgement and your request will be assessed. The VREG will check whether you meet the conditions detailed in the aforementioned Flemish Government decrees. If you do not meet these conditions, the VREG will reject the request. The VREG can always ask for additional information before making its decision.

HOW LONG WILL THE PROCESSING OF MY SUPPLY LICENCE REQUEST TAKE?

In theory you will be informed whether the supply licence is awarded within three months of receipt of the full request file.

HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER I WAS AWARDED A SUPPLY LICENCE?

If you are awarded a supply licence you will be personally informed by registered letter. The decision to award a supply licence will also be published in the Belgian State Gazette. If you are not awarded a supply licence you will be personally informed by registered letter. This letter will detail why the conditions have not been met and the period within which you can still meet said conditions, on penalty of expiry of the request.

WHEN WILL MY SUPPLY LICENCE BECOME EFFECTIVE?

The supply licence is effective from the date indicated in the decision to award a supply licence, published in the Belgian State Gazette.

HOW LONG IS MY SUPPLY LICENCE VALID?

The supply licence is valid for an indefinite period. If the VREG, however, considers that you no longer satisfy the conditions to maintain a supply licence, it can decide to suspend said licence. The VREG can only do so after having informed you of its intention to suspend the supply licence and having given you the opportunity to satisfy the conditions. The decision to suspend the supply licence will be published in the Belgian State Gazette.

CAN I FILE AN APPEAL IF THE VREG REFUSES TO AWARD ME A SUPPLY LICENCE OR IF THE VREG SUSPENDS MY SUPPLY LICENCE?

Yes, you can file an appeal with the Flemish minister in charge of Energy, within 15 days of the date on which you were informed of the decision by the VREG not to award you a supply licence or to suspend said supply licence. This appeal must also simultaneously be communicated to the VREG. The appealer and the VREG will be informed of the decision by the minister within two months of receipt of the appeal. The VREG is to take the necessary measures within 15 days of receipt of this decision if the minister decides that a supply licence is to be issued or renewed.