Electricity prices - Belgium

Belgian electricity market

Electricity Supply Mix

Belgium’s generation mix is evolving rapidly. In 2024, roughly 42% of domestic production came from nuclear, with renewables (wind/solar/biomass) supplying about 30%, and natural gas about 18%. However, by late 2025 four of the country’s eight reactors (Doel 1–2, Tihange 1–2) will have shut down (per the old phase-out law). (Two newer units, Doel 4 and Tihange 3, had already been extended by 10 years.) In practice, nuclear’s share will shrink in 2025 as output from these units disappears, and gas-fired plants and imports will fill much of the gap. Renewables continue growing – offshore wind and solar capacity have climbed sharply – and Elia reports renewables hit a record 29.8% of generation in 2024. (For comparison, Elia showed nuclear at 42.2% and gas at 17.6% in 2024.) Thus one can expect 2025’s mix to be roughly 30–40% nuclear, ~30% renewables, ~20% gas (with the rest from small sources or net imports), barring any further policy changes. In May 2025 the government formally scrapped the 2025 nuclear exit, allowing Doel 4 and Tihange 3 to run into the 2030s; nonetheless the four older units will remain offline in 2025. In summary, nuclear still dominates the early-2025 mix but will taper off, renewables are climbing toward one-third of supply, and natural gas (and imports) make up most of the remainder.

End-Customer Price Components

End-user electricity prices in Belgium have three major components: (1) the energy cost (market commodity), (2) network delivery charges (transmission/distribution tariffs), and (3) taxes/levies. The energy component is the wholesale price of power plus the supplier’s margin. In practice, suppliers purchase on EPEX SPOT (Belgian day-ahead market) and other markets. This energy price can be fixed or indexed; many Belgian households had fixed contracts through 2022, but since then variable (market-based) pricing is common. Wholesale prices fell sharply in 2024, bringing down tariffs – e.g. Elia reports electricity prices averaged ~28% lower in 2024 than 2023.

Grid and delivery fees cover the cost of transporting electricity. Belgium’s transmission (Elia) and distribution (various regional DSOs) charges are regulated. These fees vary by region and meter type. For example, Flanders in 2023 switched to a partly capacity-based tariff: households now pay a fixed annual “capacitatie­starief” (based on peak kW demand) plus a per-kWh usage charge. The distribution charge also includes public-service levies (see below). In general about 25–30% of a household bill goes to network costs. (The Brussels Times reports that, by region, network charges are roughly 23–29% of the bill.)

Taxes and levies make up the rest. The main tax is VAT – which as of 2025 is a reduced 6% rate on electricity for final consumers (a relief measure made permanent in 2023). At the federal level, the old set of social surcharges was consolidated into an “energy excise” (droit d’accise spécial) since mid-2023. Under current law each household pays a fixed excise of ~€47.48/MWh (ex-VAT) on electricity. This excise funds social tariffs, nuclear decommissioning, and related federal energy programs. Regional governments also impose levies to support renewable energy and other policies. For example, Wallonia adds a “soutien renouvelables” surcharge to fund green certificates; Flanders similarly uses openbaredienstverplichtingen (public-service obligations) embedded in the network tariff to finance renewable support and network costs; and Brussels has a green certificate fee in its distribution tariff. In sum, taxes/levies typically constitute roughly 30% of a residential bill.

In summary, a Belgian household bill breaks down roughly as ~40% energy costs, ~25–30% network fees, ~25–30% taxes/levies (including VAT 6%). Note that large commercial/industrial users often avoid some charges (for example, beyond certain thresholds green surcharges are waived). But for typical residential customers, all components above apply.

Recent changes (2025): Key changes in recent years include the permanent 6% VAT rate and the new federal energy excise (replacing old levies) as of July 2023. Flanders’ network reform in 2023 introduced the capacity-based tariff. Belgium also relaxed the nuclear exit date in 2025, although that affects generation, not retail pricing. There were no new major taxes introduced in early 2025 beyond these. (One should note that social tariff levels and excise rates are updated periodically, but no 2025-specific price shock occurred.)

Dynamic (“Real-Time”) Tariffs

What they are: Dynamic (or real-time) tariffs are electricity contracts whose price varies by the hour, reflecting the wholesale market price. With a smart meter, consumption is measured hourly and each kWh is billed at that hour’s rate. This encourages users to shift loads to times of low prices. By design, these contracts typically align with the day-ahead market: for example, prices are often based on the EPEX SPOT day-ahead Belgian index (the “eSpot” price). If renewable supply (wind/solar) is high and market prices fall, customers on a dynamic tariff automatically pay less during those hours.

Operation: In practice, a dynamic contract often takes the form Energy Charge = factor×(Hourly Market Price) + constant. For instance, Engie Electrabel’s “Dynamic” plan charges (0.1 × eSpot + A) cents/kWh, i.e. 10% of the hourly EPEX day-ahead price plus a fixed base amount. Larger factors (up to 100%) also exist with other suppliers. Consumers can track hourly prices (many suppliers provide apps or portals) and schedule flexible loads (EV charging, heat pump, etc.) when prices dip.

Regulatory framework: EU energy law (Electricity Directive 2019/944) requires member states to offer at least one dynamic tariff to customers with smart meters. Belgium has transposed this: under current rules, any supplier with over 200,000 customers must offer a dynamic contract to any requesting customer who has a suitable (hourly) meter. In practice, rollout has been phased by region. Dynamic plans are already available in Flanders, where smart meters are widespread; Belgian regulators note that “for now, only in Flanders can you opt for a dynamic tariff,” though offerings are growing. Brussels is building the necessary infrastructure: a data platform to share half-hourly smart-meter readings is slated to launch on 1 June 2025. Wallonia’s DSO (ORES) has indicated similar plans in the pipeline. No special Belgian law was passed in 2025 specifically for dynamic tariffs, beyond these ongoing implementations of the EU mandate. However, regulators in all regions now expect suppliers to make such products available to eligible customers.

Major Providers Offering Dynamic Tariffs

Several of Belgium’s large suppliers have launched dynamic/spot-indexed plans. Below are examples of residential offerings (all require a smart meter):

For concrete pricing examples, consider Engie Electrabel’s “Dynamic” formula: Eₕ (c€/kWh) = 0.1 × (EPEX day-ahead price in €/MWh) + A, where A is a fixed constant set in your contract. Thus if the day-ahead price (“eSpot”) is €50/MWh, the charge is (0.1×50) + A = 5 c€/kWh + A. (Engie also publishes the upcoming day-ahead price daily at 14:00 on its site.)

Each supplier’s plan has its own structure and contract terms (e.g. Engie’s app, Eneco’s “price forecasting”, etc.). Generally these plans target households with flexibility (e.g. EV drivers or smart-home users). A summary:

• Engie Electrabel – First on the market with a spot-based plan. Uses the formula above and offers a smartphone app to help consumers use appliances at low-price hours.
• EDF Luminus – Offers a dynamic contract indexed to wholesale prices, marketed as 100% renewable. One-year term with real-time hourly pricing.
• Eneco (Eni) – Sells “Zon & Wind Dynamisch”, a 100%-green dynamic plan. Provides daily price forecasts so customers can pre-schedule loads for cheapest hours.
• Mega – Independent supplier that recently added a spot tariff. It highlights straightforward pricing and low fixed fees.
• Other Suppliers – Smaller companies like Bolt and Octa+ have also introduced hourly-rate products, often bundling renewables or community schemes.

Each of these can be chosen by shopping around (online comparison tools and the regulators’ simulators can compare actual current dynamic rates). Large customers (beyond typical household scale) may negotiate custom power-price contracts directly or purchase on markets.

In sum, dynamic tariffs in Belgium tie the consumer price directly to the wholesale market (e.g. EPEX SPOT). The trend is accelerating: as of 2025, most suppliers of significant size must offer such products to smart-metered customers. The table above summarizes the key providers and their plans.

Peak and Off-Peak Hours

Belgium 2024 – Average Hourly Wholesale Electricity Price (EPEX)