FAQs

• 1. Who is affected by the liberalization of the gas market?
• 2. What actually changes after liberalization?
• 3. How is total energy price calculated in a liberalized market?
• 4. Who does what in the liberalized energy market?
• 5. Who do you have to sign a contract with?
• 6. What powers does CREG have?
• 7. What powers do CWaPE, VREG and IBGE have?
• 8. I would like to have multiple sites supplied by a single supplier, is this possible?

1. Who is affected by the liberalization of the gas market?

Everyone: private and public companies, self-employed customers (artisans, merchants, liberal professions) and residential customers.

Top

---

2. What actually changes after liberalization?

• Several suppliers are active on the market and use the same transmission and distribution networks. You sign a contract with the supplier of your choice.
• The price of gas consists of the supply of gas molecules (this part of the price varies from one supplier to the next) and the cost of transmitting the gas through the networks (this part of the price is approved by CREG in accordance with the applicable royal decrees).

Top

---

3. How is total energy price calculated in a liberalized market?

• The 'molecule' price: this is the only thing that you can negotiate with your supplier, depending on the quantity consumed, your consumption profile, the services provided and the guarantees given.
• Transmission tariff: billed to your supplier by the transmission system operator pursuant to approval by CREG; these fees are transparently passed on to you by your supplier.
• Distribution tariff: approved by CREG, they are the result of investments by the distribution system operator for building, maintaining and operating a safe and reliable infrastructure. They are billed to your supplier, who transparently passes them on to you.
• Taxes and levies by the public authorities: VAT as well as other taxes and fees, along with federal and regional contributions, are passed on in your bill.

Top

---

4. Who does what in the liberalized energy market?

To read the information, click on the orange label.

Top

---

5. Who do you have to sign a contract with?

According to the European directive imposing the legal separation of gas production, transmission or distribution (from the network) and sales, you can choose one of two options:

• In most cases, your supplier will remain your sole contact: you sign a supply contract with your supplier, which includes gas transmission.
• However, you can also choose to sign two separate contracts: one with your supplier and the other with the system operator

Top

---

6. What powers does CREG have?

CREG, the Commission for Electricity and Gas Regulation, is the independent federal advisory body responsible for overseeing the natural gas market. Its powers are:

• giving prior approval for tariffs for accessing and using transmission and distribution networks;
• overseeing the implementation by various market players of standards relating to its operation and organization;
• advising the Ministry of Economic Affairs on the issuance of federal transmission and supply permits;
• mediating and arbitrating disputes.

Top

---

7. What powers do CWaPE, VREG and IBGE have?

CWaPE (Walloon Commission for Energy) in Wallonia, VREG (Flemish Electricity and Gas Market Regulatory Body) in Flanders and IBGE (Belgian Environmental Management Institute) in Brussels are the independent supervisory and advisory bodies at the regional level. They have the following powers:

• technical regulations for managing the distribution system, gaining access to it and the conditions for laying direct lines;
• drafting a code of good conduct for access to the system;
• appointing distribution system operators and supervising them;
• awarding licences to suppliers active on the distribution networks located in their region;
• conciliation and arbitration in legal disputes;
• advising the regional government.

Top

---

8. I would like to have multiple sites supplied by a single supplier, is this possible?

Distrigas offers this service to its customers.

Top

---