Energy market

There are several market parties active on the Belgian energy market. Energy follows a whole chain before being delivered to your home or company. From the production of electricity and the import of gas to the deliverance of electricity via the wall socket.

Production

The major electricity producers in Belgium are Electrabel and SPE. No natural gas is generated in Belgium. All natural gas is imported from abroad.

Balance

There must be a permanent balance between the electricity production and the consumption of electricity. This is the responsibility of the Access Responsible Party. Lack of balance can even result in power outages. The transmission operator is the Access Responsible Party's counterpart for natural gas.

Transmission

Transmission system operators transmit energy to the distribution network. Elia is the transmission system operator for electricity, Fluxys is the transport company for natural gas.

Trading

Energy suppliers who are not producers are to buy their energy from a producer or from energy exchange markets.

Monitoring

Regulators monitor and regulate the liberalised energy market. There is one federal regulator, the CREG in addition to three regional regulators. The VREG (Flemish Regulator of the Electricity and Gas Market) is the regulator in Flanders.

Distribution network operator

The network operators manage, develop and maintain the electricity and/or natural gas distribution network for a specific territory and transmit, at the supplier's request, the energy to the end users. They provide new connections to the network and are responsible for reading your electricity and/or natural gas meter.  

Energy supply

The energy suppliers ensure that you receive energy and sell electricity and/or natural gas and invoice your energy use.