Applying for an energy license
You need an energy license for the supply of electricity and natural gas to small-scale users. Such licenses come with strict requirements. License applications can be filed with us. New entrants are welcome on the energy market. However, please be aware that complying with the requirements takes a lot of time and knowledge.
On this page:
Preparations for the application
You need an energy license for supplying electricity and natural gas to small-scale users. As such licenses come with strict requirements, you must make the necessary preparations before holding a preliminary discussion with us. That means you need to study the relevant rules and regulations that apply to energy suppliers:
- Selling to consumers (in Dutch)
- Energy-license requirements (in Dutch)
- Rules and regulations for the energy market (in Dutch)
In addition, you also need to draw up a plan in which you explain the following:
- What target group you will focus on, and how you plan to recruit customers
- What types of contracts you will offer
- What the organization of your undertaking will be (see chapter 3 of the Explanatory notes to the application form for a supply license regarding electricity and natural gas – in Dutch)
- How you will finance your company
- How you will organize purchasing and program responsibility
- What risks your company will incur and how you plan to mitigate these risks
You will send your plan in writing by email to vergunninghouders [at] acm [punt] nl (vergunninghouders[at]acm[dot]nl), in which you can also request a preliminary discussion. This is the first step towards obtaining an energy license.
The preliminary discussion
In consultation with you, we pick a date for a preliminary discussion at the offices of ACM in The Hague. In that preliminary discussion, we want to get to know you better, and paint you a picture of the energy markets. In addition, we explain how we assess license applications. After the preliminary discussion, you decide whether or not you file an application for a license. During the preliminary discussion, the following topics are discussed:
- You present your plans
- You can ask any questions that have arisen during the preparations for the preliminary discussion
- We explain what obligations (including reporting obligations) you as a license-holder will have
- We explain how we regulate energy suppliers
- We explain how you can apply for a license, and how we will assess your application
During the preliminary discussion, we cannot comment on the possible outcome of a license application that you may submit. In addition, after the preliminary discussion, perhaps you wish to do more research before deciding whether or not to apply for a license.
The license application
Make sure that your company meets the following:
- The requirements for an energy license (in Dutch)
- The information obligations when selling energy to consumers (in Dutch)
- The rules and regulations for the energy market (in Dutch)
Please check this before requesting the preliminary discussion. Otherwise we may decline your application.
You need to submit the following documents before submitting your application:
- Application form for a license regarding the supply of electricity and/or natural gas to small-scale users (in Dutch)
- Explanatory notes to the application form for a supply license regarding electricity and natural gas (in Dutch)
- Annex 1: Assessment framework for administrative organization and internal control (AO/IC) (in Dutch)
- Annex 2: Instructions for independent accountants (in Dutch)
- Annex 3: Format for Assurance report: positive assessment (in Dutch)
- Annex 4: Format for Assurance report: assessment with restrictions (in Dutch)
- Annex 5: Format for administrative organization and internal control (AO/IC) (in Dutch)
- Annex 6: Financial position of license applicant (in Dutch)
- Examples of offers and contracts that you will use
- Information about your program responsibility and the procurement of energy
- Information about the financial position and funding of your company
- Proof of registration with an independent complaints board, such as the Dutch Foundation for Complaints and Dispute Resolution
- EAN code (European Article Number) of your company
- Business Register extract from the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK)
- A court-issued certificate of non-bankruptcy (no more than two weeks old on the date of your license application)
- Assurance report from an independent accountant
Ask an independent accountant to draw up an assurance report. Give this accountant the following documents:
- The explanatory notes to the application form, with the request to read section 3.2 regarding the AO/IC
- Annexes 1 and 5 (completed by you)
- Annexes 2, 3 and 4 (to be completed by the accountant)
Filing a digital application
If you have all the necessary information, you can file a license application digitally using Cryptshare. That is our online system for sending digital documents securely. In the recipient field, please enter: vergunninghouders [at] acm [punt] nl (vergunninghouders[at]acm[dot]nl).
Please note that we only accept applications filed in Dutch.
Our decision
Within 8 weeks after filing the application, you will hear whether or not we will grant the license. Sometimes we need more time. In that case, we will extend the deadline.
If you are granted the license, we will add you to our list of licenseholders for electricity and natural gas. And we will publish our decision regarding the energy license on our website.
Costs in connection with the energy license
You pay us a one-time fee of 1,199 euros per license in connection with the grant of the license.
In addition, you will incur costs in connection with the application process, such as hiring an accountant, as well as for meeting the requirements such as the yearly registration fee for the Dutch Foundation for Complaints and Dispute Resolution.