Energy allowance 2026: what applies in your municipality?
By Laurens Arends · updated 05-10-2026
What is the situation with the energy allowance in 2026?
The national energy allowance was a temporary measure during the energy crisis. In 2022 and 2023, low-income households in principle received an allowance of € 1.300. The national guideline was around 120 percent of the social minimum, although municipalities were allowed to deviate from it. That also happened in practice. This is evident from research into the implementation by Divosa. It showed that the energy allowance was actually granted to 73,4% of the target group.
The statutory implementation period ended on 1 September 2024. Since then, there has been no national energy allowance with one amount and one income limit. The Rijksoverheid does indicate that municipalities can decide for themselves in 2026 what local help they offer.
For the winter of 2025/2026, the central government made an extra € 30 million available to municipalities. Municipalities were allowed to use that money for, among other things, income support, energy coaches and making homes more sustainable. So it is not automatically money that every resident receives directly. According to the Rijksoverheid, the implementation ties in with existing local policy. A municipality can decide for itself where the money is most needed and most useful.
In the municipal schemes that EnergieAanbieding.nl checked on 26 August 2026, amounts of about € 200 to € 400 occurred. That is not a national average and certainly not a guaranteed amount. Your municipality may also opt for, for example, more special assistance, free energy-saving products or help with insulation instead of a fixed energy allowance in 2026.
That also proves necessary. According to the Monitor Energiearmoede of TNO and the CBS an estimated 503.000 households experienced energy poverty in 2025. Households with a low income and high energy costs were on average € 624 per year short of getting their energy costs below the threshold used.
Who was the national energy allowance intended for?
The national energy allowance was intended for households that found it hard to make ends meet due to the sharply increased energy prices. The national guideline was set at a maximum of 120 percent of the social minimum. Municipalities were allowed to use a broader income limit and paid some known social assistance households automatically.
That old limit says nothing about your entitlement to energy help in 2026. Municipalities now determine their target group themselves. The planned Noodfonds also uses a different method, in which not only income but also the amount of the energy bill counts.
Alternatives: municipal help or Noodfonds?
The national energy allowance has ended, but there are still alternatives for those facing energy poverty. These are shown below.
| Scheme | Situation on 26 August 2026 | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National energy allowance | Ended since 1 September 2024 | No national amount. |
| Municipal energy assistance | Only where the municipality has a scheme | Varies by municipality. In our sample, amounts of approximately € 200 to € 400 occurred. |
| Special assistance | Individual assessment by the municipality | Depends on the necessary costs and your financial capacity. |
| Noodfonds Energie | Still closed, opening planned for winter 2026/2027 | Depends on income and energy costs. |
The planned Noodfonds Energie is therefore not a new national energy allowance with a fixed amount. The fund looks at the ratio between your gross household income and your energy bill. The final opening date and conditions had not yet been set on 26 August 2026.
How to apply for the energy allowance from your municipality
Applying for the (possible) municipal energy allowance is not possible at every municipality. So ask whether the municipality has its own energy allowance. If so, this will in principle also be shown on the municipal website. It is not always called an energy allowance.
Some municipalities, for example, refer to energy assistance or special assistance for energy costs. Did you previously give permission to share data from the Tijdelijk Noodfonds Energie with your municipality? Then your municipality may contact you itself with an offer of help. This does not mean that you will automatically receive a sum of money.
Consult the municipality's website and check whether the municipality has an energy allowance. Check the publication date, because we have noticed that old pages about the energy allowance of € 1.300 are sometimes still online. If in doubt, contact the municipality directly and ask about the support options.
Each municipality decides for itself what help it offers and which conditions apply. Check which income period the municipality uses and whether it looks at your gross or net income. Also check whether the combined household income, your assets, your living situation and the name on the energy contract play a role. In 2026 there is no national income or asset limit for local energy assistance, so you will really have to look at the local conditions.
Municipalities may ask for your identity details, recent payslips or benefit statements, bank statements, an energy contract and the latest energy bill. Sometimes your partner also has to provide details. Use DigiD if the municipality offers a digital application form and keep the confirmation of receipt.
The Noodfonds Energie is expected to open again
The government wants to reopen the Noodfonds Energie in winter 2026/2027. On 26 August 2026 you cannot yet submit an application. According to the Rijksoverheid, once opened the fund will remain open for at least four months and is expected to be able to help around 500.000 households.
The provisional conditions look at two things. With a gross income up to 130 percent of the social minimum, the energy bill must amount to at least 8 percent of income. With an income between 130 and 200 percent, that threshold is expected to be 10 percent. The Noodfonds would pay half of the amount above that threshold.
The Rijksoverheid uses a single person with a gross income of € 2.000 and monthly energy costs of € 200 as a worked example. Eight percent of the income is € 160. Of the difference of € 40, the fund then pays half, so € 20 per month and € 240 per year. To be absolutely clear, this is purely a worked example and not a fixed amount to which every household is entitled.
Not eligible? These are the alternatives
You may not meet the conditions for the Noodfonds Energie or for the municipal energy allowance. If you are nevertheless facing energy poverty, it is good to know that a number of alternative sources of help still exist.
Apply for special assistance
Special assistance is intended for demonstrable, necessary and exceptional costs that you cannot pay from your income or assets. Your municipality assesses your personal situation and decides whether you receive a grant or a loan. Apply for special assistance before you pay the costs. According to the Rijksoverheid, special assistance is in principle not granted retroactively if the bill has already been paid. The municipality must normally decide on a complete application within eight weeks.
Contact your energy supplier immediately
Can't pay an instalment or annual bill? Then don't wait for a reminder. Ask your supplier straight away for a suitable payment arrangement and check together whether your instalment still matches your consumption. Be careful, though, because this may have consequences for, for example, a loyalty discount or welcome discount. The terms and conditions sometimes state that you will not receive that discount if you do not pay all invoices properly on time.
Stricter rules have applied since 1 January 2026. According to the ACM a supplier must send at least three payment reminders and offer a suitable payment arrangement before supply may be stopped. Anyone who keeps to the arrangement or has registered for debt assistance may not be disconnected.
Have someone check which schemes you are missing
Check whether you are entitled to rent benefit, healthcare benefit, exemption from municipal taxes or an individual income supplement. These schemes are not an energy allowance, but can create room to pay your energy bill . Geldfit offers free and anonymous help via telephone number 0800-8115. The Potjes-check shows which national and municipal schemes may suit your situation. The Rijksoverheid also refers to local energy coaches and social support organisations.
Lower your bill structurally
Ask your municipality about a free energy coach, energy box or white goods scheme. Research by TNO shows that targeted energy assistance for households in energy poverty can demonstrably reduce gas and electricity consumption. With our practical saving tips you can start taking measures yourself without a large investment. If you own your home, also check the national and local subsidies for insulation and sustainable heating.
Frequently asked questions about the energy allowance 2026
Most questions about the energy allowance 2026 are about the amount and the application. That is exactly where there is no longer a national answer. So always check the current information from your municipality.
Does the energy allowance still exist in 2026?
No, the national energy allowance no longer exists in 2026. According to the Rijksoverheid, your municipality may offer a local energy allowance, special assistance or other energy assistance. The Noodfonds Energie is a separate scheme and had not yet opened on 26 August 2026.
How much is the energy allowance?
There is no national amount. In the municipal schemes that EnergieAanbieding.nl checked on 26 August 2026, amounts of approximately € 200 to € 400 occurred, but a municipality can also offer support in kind or a tailored solution. So check the amount and the conditions on your municipality's official website.
How can I apply for the energy allowance?
This varies by municipality. Check the income and asset conditions and submit the requested supporting documents to the municipality. Unfortunately, there is no national standard method we can refer you to.
What if I can't pay my energy bill?
Contact your energy supplier immediately and ask for a payment arrangement. At the same time, ask your municipality about the options for special assistance, local energy assistance and free debt assistance. In any case, your supplier may not disconnect you as long as you keep to a suitable payment arrangement or have registered for debt assistance.