Services – Electricity, Gas & Water in Belgium

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Services – Electricity, Gas & Water in Belgium

Gas & Electricity

The Belgian electricity and natural gas markets were deregulated at the beginning of 2007, allowing consumers to choose from a range of companies. In order to help the consumer, two services have been set up to enable comparison of various suppliers' prices for gas and electricity.

• Test achats (in French & Dutch)
• Brugel (in French & Dutch)

Suppliers

• Electrabel
  At: Boulevard du Regent 8, 1000 Brussels
  Tel: 02 518 61 11 / 02 518 64 00
  Customer Solutions Tel: 07 835 33 33
  Website 
• Sibelga
  At: Chaussee d'Ixelles 133, 1050 Brussels
  Tel: 02 549 41 00
  Website 
• Essent
  At: Ring Business Center, Noordersingel 19, 2140 Antwerp
  Tel: 07 815 79 79
  Website (in French & Dutch)
• Nuon
  At: Medialaan 34, 1800 Vilvoorde
  Tel: 0800 929 02 / 02 290 95 01
  e-mail
  Website (in French & Dutch)
• Luminus
  At: Boulevard d'Avroy 37, 4000 Liege
  Tel: 07 815 51 00
  Website (in French & Dutch)
• For a comprehensive list of gas and electricity suppliers: Click here 

Getting connected: gas and electricity

If moving to a property that already has a gas or electricity supply: one week before the move, contact the gas or electricity company and request a transfer form. This form should be filled out by both the old and new tenants as connection to an existing system usually only requires a change of details. It will be necessary to provide a meter reading. If the meter is not accessible, contact the company, who will send out an agent to take a reading free of charge.

If moving to a property where the gas or electricity supplies have not been connected, call the relevant company who will arrange to send out a technician to connect the supply.

Changing gas or electricity supplier

With the deregulation of gas and electricity, customers can now choose a different supplier. In order to do so, it is necessary to provide the following information to the present supplier:

• EAN (European Article Numbering) code (can be obtained from the present supplier)
• Yearly consumption mentioned on the last yearly invoice
• Tariff applicable with the present contract (this is mentioned under the heading Données de Facturation on the last yearly invoice)

The new supplier will take over at least one month after the new contract has been signed.

Billing and meter readings

Estimated electricity bills are sent out monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly depending on the chosen supplier. Annual meter readings are carried out automatically by all the utility companies and the bill is then readjusted in line with the consumption. If an interim meter reading is needed, contact the relevant utility company and ask them to send out a technician.

Payment of bills

The usual method of payment is via bank transfer or direct debit, but bills may also be paid by cheque.

Moving/disconnecting services

Notify the local agencies two weeks before moving house. A final meter reading (where possible) is usually required, as well as a forwarding address where the final bills may be sent. If moving to another property in the same region, it is usually possible to transfer client details from one property to another.

Water

Each region has its own water company. To set up a contract the following information is required:

• The address of the property
• The name of the new occupant
• The moving-in date
• The meter reading
• Copy of the new occupant's passport or identity card

Brussels region

In the Brussels-Capital region the water supplier is the Intercommunale Bruxelloise de Distribution d'Eau (IBDE) / Brusselse Intercommunale voor Waterdistributie (BIWD) 

• IBDE/BIWD
  At: Rue aux Laines 70, 1000 Brussels
  Tel: 02 518 81 11
  Website (in French)
  Website (in Dutch)
• Emergency Service 24/7
  Tel: 02 739 52 11

To set up a contract with IBDE/BIWD fill in a form (available from the address above).

Note: the form must be signed by the new occupant and by the landlord or previous owner

If moving to a new property or one that has been left empty, a visit from a IBDE/BIWD agent will be required as the meter will need to be re-started. Water bills are sent out annually.

Flanders region

The water company for the region of Flanders is the Vlaamse Maatschappij voor Watervoorziening, VMW.

• VMW website (in Dutch)
• To find a local address and telephone number for the VMW: Click here 

Wallonia region

The water company for Wallonia is the Société Wallonne des Distributions d'Eau (SWDE).

• SWDE
  At: Rue de la Concorde 41, 4800 Verviers
  Tel: 08 787 87 87 (French)
  Tel: 08 787 87 88 (German)
  Tel: 08 787 87 89 (Dutch)
  Website  (in French)
• To request the necessary forms for setting up a contract with SWDE online: Click here 

Water bills are sent out every three months and must be paid within 15 days.

Further Information

• AngloINFO INFOrmation page Telephone & Internet in Belgium