The energy allowance is intended to help low-income earners cope with the significantly increased energy bills. Photo from Shutterstock The WKvV is an umbrella body that represents Wageningen student associations’ interests. Chairman Jort Hautvast (20) calls on the municipality to extend the energy allowance for low-income earners to students as well. He has written a letter to the municipality and engaged with councillors during the political evening on Monday 12 December.
“The one-off €1,300 energy allowance is intended for people in vulnerable financial situations,” Hautvast said. “Students are one such vulnerable group, but because of the wording of the conditions, most do not qualify for the allowance. For instance, student houses do not qualify as households, and students do not always meet the minimum age limit of 21 years old. You also have to have your own contract with an energy supplier. Many student houses do not meet these conditions or others, so students are largely left by the wayside. Meanwhile, however, the sky-high energy prices are being passed on to us.”
The municipality seemed quite willing to accommodate for students, Hautvast noted at the political evening. “Board members said they would like to help students, but the municipality does not have the resources to give €1,300 to every student, nor did they have the administrative capacity. This is because the central government has given the municipalities the responsibility for dealing with the energy allowance, but they have not provided them with any budget. We want to put pressure on the municipality with our argument, so they go to the central government and say: make money available for this.”
Legal steps
Should his argument prove unsuccessful, legal steps can be taken, Hautvast said. “A lawsuit has already been filed against the municipality in Nijmegen. A lot more students can claim the energy allowance there already.” Other student cities also have lawsuits underway.
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