Federal Government had approved a reform of energy bills designed to make them more transparent and easier to compare for households and businesses.
Proposed by Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) and Consumer Protection Minister Rob Beenders (Vooruit), a reform was adopted in second reading on Friday and is set to come into force on 1 January 2027.
Because energy markets are now volatile due to geopolitical tensions, many households feel the pressure through rising prices.
In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Belgian households have reviewed their contracts, with many switching to fixed-price deals.
The Ministry want to fundamentally simplify the energy bill across all suppliers. That way, consumers can have a single structure across all providers, a clear breakdown of costs (energy, network fees and taxes) and no hidden charges or complex formulas.
The goal is to allow households to quickly identify the most advantageous contract and better understand what they are actually paying.
Better protection
The reform also wants clear and complete pre-contract information to the clients, greater transparency for automatic contract renewals, a mandatory inclusion of a QR code or web link to tariff details and a ban on misleading pricing mechanisms, such as conditional discounts.
Rules around contracts
Consumers can still terminate contracts at any time, with a maximum notice period of three weeks, exit fees are strictly limited and proportionate and finally, energy suppliers must justify any termination costs.
Belgium's energy regulator, CREG, will monitor compliance and publish annual evaluations.
According to recent analyses, Belgian households could save hundreds of euros per year by better comparing contracts and switching providers, something the reform aims to make easier.
If EU plans go ahead, future energy bills may also include a separate line for costs linked to the ETS2 carbon pricing system, further improving transparency.
"In a context of international uncertainty and volatile energy prices, it is essential that households clearly understand what they are paying," said Bihet.
Beenders added that the measures will ensure consumers can "choose the most advantageous contract", leading to structurally lower energy costs and stronger purchasing power.
The draft law will now be submitted to the Council of State for advice before heading to Parliament.
