Utrecht province plans public heat company costing €19.3m
The province wants to build heat networks itself through a new company, Uwarmte, aiming to connect 15,000 homes within ten years as the Netherlands moves off gas.
The province of Utrecht wants to set up a public heat company, Uwarmte, to lay heat networks itself. It would do so with NetVerder, a sister company of Stedin, and Nationale Deelneming Warmte (NDW). The provincial deputies, including Huib van Essen, are asking the provincial council (Provinciale Staten) to set aside €19.3m.
Uwarmte is to connect around 15,000 homes in the next ten years. "That is a start," Van Essen said. In the long term the company should connect around 110,000 homes. All municipalities in the province could take part later.
For its money the province would get 20% of the company. NetVerder and NDW, a state-owned company created to co-finance heat companies, would each hold 40%. Van Essen said this means the partners always need each other to take a decision.
The province already has a heat support body that mainly advises municipalities and residents. "But we noticed in several municipalities that there is a need for a bigger heat company that can also build the networks," Van Essen said, citing Amersfoort and Veenendaal. Veenendaal has 3,000 connections and wants 17,000.
Uwarmte will not be the only heat company in the province. Utrecht and Nieuwegein already work with the public heat company of waste processor HVC, and some networks are private, such as Eneco's. Van Essen said Uwarmte will not buy these up: "We are really focusing on new networks." He said local initiatives will not be pushed aside.
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Nationale Deelneming Warmte (NDW)
Nationale Deelneming Warmte is a national public company that takes stakes in regional public heat companies, which build and manage the heat networks that deliver warmth to homes and buildings. It is one of the partners that a province can bring in to set up such a company. Its role is to provide public capital and expertise for the shift away from gas-based heating.
Provinciale Staten
Provinciale Staten is the provincial council, the elected body of each of the twelve Dutch provinces. It adopts the provincial budget and policy plans, and it oversees the Gedeputeerde Staten, the executive team of provincial deputies. Decisions such as approving a new public company or large spending require its approval.