More than a quarter of a million families eligible for compensation premium reversing counter

The Constitutional Court put an end to the system of the reversing counter in 2021, so that thousands of families saw their expected efficiency disappear. « For many it felt like a blow. They had consciously opted for renewable energy, but remained behind with a loss. The retroactive premium makes that partly good and tries to restore confidence in government policy, » says Warnez.

In order to compensate for those owners when switching to the digital meter, the ‘retroactive investment premium’ was introduced for the solar panel owners who have still been able to recoup their investment.

The figures that Warnez has requested shows that in the meantime 113,000 families have received a premium, with an average premium amount of 1,553 euros. According to Fluvius, 240,000 families would be eligible. But according to Warnez it is often about people who placed solar panels long ago. « They don’t always know that this premium is there for them, after they got a digital meter. Clear communication is essential, » says Warnez.

The CD&V Member of Parliament also received figures about the number of people who refuse to place a digital meter. For example, 46,238 families ignored the digital meter, despite different contact attempts. « 198 people have already received a notice of default on the bus. That is worrying, » says Warnez. He insists on more empathy and guidance of the refusers. « We must prevent people from being forced through the court. »

In the meantime, nearly 2.6 million digital meters have been placed in Flanders. 1.2 million digital meters still have to be placed. Flanders would be on schedule to replace all analog meters by digital by 2029.