Small and medium-sized companies are critical of the government’s energy support package. “Many companies are not helped by this. We asked the bakers, for example, and they didn’t come up with 12.5 percent energy costs as a percentage of sales,” says Jacco Vonhof from MKB Nederland about the definitive support scheme for energy costs (TEK) for small and medium-sized companies. This 12.5 percent is the threshold that applies to eligibility.

“The costs have increased so much that they can no longer pass them on through the price of their product. Then the regulation misses its target because hardly anyone is entitled to it.”

This bakery in Amersfoort just probably doesn’t qualify for financial support:

“The thresholds for the program are far too high, so only a few entrepreneurs qualify for it,” says Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN). Like MKB Nederland, the branch association of the catering industry considers the support to be insufficient and advocates lowering the thresholds.

rush per month

The industry association INretail of retailers also sees the regulation as a failure in advance. “The average retail energy cost is now around 3, 4, maybe 5 percent. They go to 6, 7 or even 8 percent. This is a huge cost increase for retailers, on top of increased product and labor costs. “, explains spokesman Paul von Grotenhuis. “That cannot and should not be the intention.”

Besides, the order comes too late. “From now to April 1st we are almost six months ahead,” says Te Grotenhuis. “The need is there now and the situation is getting more urgent every month. It’s about helping companies through the winter.”

“I am very worried that we will have serious problems in our economy. I hear from bakers, butchers, gardeners and body shops that they can’t get away with this rule,” says Vonhof. “Even the upper limit of 160,000 euros per year is too low. In Europe, a completely different sum is being considered, now there is talk of funding of up to 750,000 euros per company.”

Not just criticism

One of the companies that qualify for the subsidy is Sauna De Heuvelrug in Veenendaal. Owner Hans Lebbink speaks of 15 to 16 percent energy costs. He has a variable energy contract and prices change per day. “It helps this support if you get at least over 12.5 percent. If the support doesn’t come until April, that’s a shame because we need it urgently.”

Proof Bakery in Amersfoort does not qualify. “We can’t do anything with this arrangement. This situation is unsustainable. Most bakeries certainly don’t reach that 12.5 percent,” explains owner Vicky Littlejohn.

“You can’t pass that on to a customer, because the price of bread doesn’t just consist of energy costs. If we had to pass everything on, that would be an increase of 20 percent. A lot of people don’t want to pay for this and that’ means smaller bakeries go bust.

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This also applies to medium-sized and larger industrial bread and confectionery bakeries. The Dutch Bakery Association, which represents their interests, finds the upper limit of 160,000 euros per year particularly problematic.

“We qualify this as handouts. A large bakery spends around 360,000 euros a month on gas. It would work better for us if it was per connection than per company, some companies have several branches.”

This month the government announced how households will be compensated for the sharp rise in energy costs.