Levy On Unused Electricity Production Sites

In 2006, the Belgian federal legislator imposed a levy on unused sites for electricity generation. In 2008 the amount of this levy was approximately EUR 50M. The Constitutional Court declared that the imposition was in line with the Belgian Constitution.

The aim of the levy was to force the incumbent electricity producer, Electrabel, to sell some or all of this sites to competing energy undertakings.

In 2008, the federal legislator amended the amount of the levy. As from the entry into force, this amount would be increased with EUR 20M.

In response to a question of Katrien Partyka (CD&V), the minister of energy acknowledged that imposing the levy did not reached the goals of releasing or selling these sites to other energy undertakings. All sites are still property of Electrabel and remain unused.

Levy On Unused Electricity Production Sites