Obligation to report energy-saving measures

Does your company's annual energy consumption exceed 50,000 kWh of electricity or 25,000 m3 of gas (equivalent)? The Activities Decree (Activiteitenbesluit) states that you must take energy-saving measures. You also need to report what measures you have taken to save energy.

Saving energy

If your company's annual energy consumption exceeds 50,000 kWh (electricity) or 25,000 m3 (gas) or the equivalent in another fuel (in Dutch), you must take energy-saving measures of which the payback period is less than 5 years. Reporting which energy-saving measures you have taken is mandatory for these companies.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has drawn up a step-by-step plan (in Dutch) to help you meet the government’s reporting obligations for saving energy. You can also find out:

• if you are obliged to take energy-saving measures and report on this
• which of the recognised energy-saving measures applies to your industry (in Dutch)

Reporting energy-saving measures

If your company or organisation is obliged to take measures to save energy, you are also obliged to report on your energy savings. Then you have to inform the municipality or environment agency about the measures you take. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has created a video (in Dutch) on how to report.

There are recognised energy saving measures (Erkende Maatregelenlijst Energiebesparing, in Dutch) for 19 sectors. You use this list as a starting point. You indicate for each recognised measure if you have executed it.

Reporting via the ePortal

You can report your energy-saving measures via the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s ePortal (eLoket) using eHerkenning (eRecognition) level 2+ with authorisation for RVO services level eH2+. Once you have submitted a report on your energy-saving measures, you have to update this report every 4 years.

You were obliged to report on the measures your company has taken to save energy by 1 July 2019. If you have not yet done so, you should report as soon as possible. Organisations that were established after 1 January 2019 will have 1 year to report on their energy-saving measures.

Was a new company established on existing business premises after 1 January 2019? And does this company provide similar services to the company that was there before? Then it does not count as a new organisation.

Exemption from obligation to report energy-saving measures

The obligation to report energy-saving measures does not apply to:

• organisations that need an all-in-one permit for physical aspects (Activities Decree type C companies)
• companies or organisations whose installations participate in the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS)
• companies or organisations whose installations participate in the covenant of Long-Term Agreements for Energy Efficiency (Meerjarenafspraken energie-efficiëntie, MJA3) (in Dutch)
• companies in the horticulture sector participating in the CO2 cost equalisation system (in Dutch)

Companies with an EED energy audit duty

Is your company obliged to comply with an EED (Energy Efficiency Directive) energy audit (in Dutch)? Then you had to report by 5 December 2019 which measures you have taken. This could also be done via RVO.nl’s ePortal (eLoket).