New on 1 January: electricity, natural gas, internet and cleaning services rates go up

As of January 1st, several basic services will receive a readjustment with a price increase. This is the case for electricity, natural gas and internet in all Belgian regions and for cleaning services in Brussels.

According to the federal energy regulator CREG, the electricity rate will increase by an average of 7.8 per cent and that of natural gas by 9.7 per cent. The social tariff for electricity will go to 28,57 cents per kilowatt hour, including VAT. 

The social rate for natural gas will amount to 3.72 cents per kilowatt hour, also including VAT. An estimated 2 million in Belgium are entitled to it. The social rate is a reduced rate for certain categories, for example, people who are entitled to a living wage, residents of social housing or the elderly with a reduced income.

New rate increase at Proximus

According to the telecom company, these are increases of an average of 4 to 6 per cent. At competitor Orange, prices will be increased on 15 January. The previous price increase at Proximus dates from 1 May. 

From January, Proximus will charge an additional 3 to 4.5 euros per month for most services. The "Internet Maxi" subscription will be 3 euros more expensive, to EUR 54.99 per month or EUR 59.99 on fiber. "Internet Essential", the cheapest subscription from Proximus, will remain at 25 euros per month.

The monthly rate for mobile phone subscriptions "Mobilus" will not change. The price for a fixed telephone line rises by 1.5 euros per month to 26.13 euros.

Proximus is also adjusting some rates of its low-cost brand "Scarlet". The "Loco Internet" formula (unlimited internet) goes from 32 to 34 euros per month, the "Trio Pack" (internet, TV and fixed line) from 40 to 42 euros per month.

Service vouchers go up in Brussels

These vouchers are a mean of payment supported by all the Belgian regions for services related to home management, such cleaning, grocery shopping, ironing and transport of disabled persons, for example. 

From 1 January, a service check will cost 10 euros instead of 9 euros in Brussels. For frequent users, the price will even increase to 12 euros. However, the tax deduction remains at 15 per cent on the first 163 purchased service vouchers per person per tax year. The tax reduction will therefore amount to 1.50 euros per service voucher, according to the cabinet of Brussels Minister of Employment, Bernard Clerfayt.

Brussels residents can order a maximum of 500 service vouchers per calendar year. The first 300 checks cost 10 euros each, and the next 200 go for 12 euros each. It used to be 9 and 10 euros per service check, respectively.

(VIV)

^{#FlandersNewsService | CREG directors Andreas Tirez, Laurent Jacquet and Koen Locquet during a meeting of the Chamber Commission Energy, Environment and Climate at the Federal Parliament in Brussels, 13 September 2022. ©BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND}