Press releases:

Energy premium for 2003 stops on 16 October.

As from 16 October 2003, the Dutch Ministry of Housing will stop the energy premium scheme (EPR)- the subsidy provision for energy premiums for equipment and facilities - for this year. Due to many applications, the budget for 2003 is exhausted. Furthermore, due to cutbacks, there will be no energy premium scheme in 2004 as there has been in 2003.

How does the energy premium for 2004 look?
The Cabinet wishes to make big cutbacks on the energy premium scheme for 2004. Accordingly, it is expected that in 2004 there will be no more energy premium scheme in its current form. The amount of money that is actually available for next year will only be apparent once the Lower Chamber of Parliament has discussed the cutbacks - in the case of the Housing Ministry, as from 11 November. In spring 2004, it will become apparent how the available budget will be spent.

EPR and EPA in 2004
In the budget for 2004 it is unfortunately not possible to save the EPR budget from cutbacks. The scheme continues to be very successful, as demonstrated by the early exhaustion of the budget available for 2003. However, the financial terms of reference mean that it is not possible for the EPR in its present form to return in 2004.

Currently, alternatives are being looked at to use the budget for 2004 in a way that aims to achieve energy savings and reduction in CO2 emissions in buildings. An important argument in this area is the implementation of the European Directive on Energy Performance of buildings. As soon as there is greater clarity over the remaining EPR budget, we will of course notify you further.

Up to when can I continue to receive the premium?
After closure of the scheme on 16 October you can only continue to receive the energy premium for equipment and facilities if you meet the following conditions:

"The equipment or facility must have been purchased before 16 October 2003, which means that the purchase agreement/contract for supply must be proved to have been signed by 15 October 2003 at the latest.
" The equipment or facility must have been installed in or connected to the home and be in working order within 13 weeks after 16 October 2003, i.e. by 15 January 2004 at the latest.
" The application form for the energy premium for 2003 for equipment of facility must be submitted within 13 weeks after 16 October 2003, i.e. by 15 January 2004 at the latest.

For equipment and facilities purchased before the closing date (16 October) and put into operation, the normal 13 week period for filing the application applies. This 13 week period commences once the equipment or facilities are made operational.

IF: The purchase agreement is signed in the period:	AND: There has been delivery and the equipment / facilities have been made operational on:	THEN: The application for the premium should be filed by:
1 jan. 2003 – 15 okt. 2003	To 15 October 2003	Within 13 weeks of operation
1 jan. 2003 – 15 okt. 2003	16 oktober 2003 – 15 januari 2004	15 januari 2004
1 jan. 2003 – 15 okt. 2003	After 15 January 2004	No further entitlement to the Energy Premium for 2003
16 okt. 2003 or later	No further entitlement to the Energy Premium for 2003

Will the Netherlands still meet the goals set by the Kyoto Accord?
It was agreed in Kyoto that the Netherlands would have reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 2010 by 6% compared to 1990. The energy premium scheme has made an important contribution to achieving this over recent years. In its outline agreement, the Cabinet indicated that it would continue to strive to achieve the Kyoto goals. In respect of domestic housing, the Energy Performance Advice (EPA) remains for now an important tool. If there is some of the subsidy budget left over for 2004, in principle the first thing to be considered is the possibility of stimulating the EPA.

For more information, click here: www.vrom.nl/energiepremie.
Any questions? Telephone 0900-1719 (€0.15/min.).

Source: Government/Novem dated 16-09-2003

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