Hittebelasting

Hittebelasting is a term used in Dutch-speaking contexts to describe a levy on heat energy used for heating buildings and producing hot water. It can refer to a municipal tax, a tariff charged by a district heating operator, or a combination of these. On heating invoices it is often shown as a separate line item.

How it is assessed and charged varies. Typically it is based on the amount of heat consumed, as measured by heat meters, or allocated among units in multi-tenant buildings. Rates and billing rules differ by jurisdiction and contract. Revenues are commonly used to cover the costs of heating infrastructure, network operation, and sometimes programs aimed at energy efficiency or climate goals.

Terminology and status differ across places. Some jurisdictions treat hitt ebelasting as a tax administered by a municipality; others classify it as a fee or tariff from a utility or energy supplier. The term is not universally used, and similar charges may go by other names such as warmtetarief or verwarmingsbelasting depending on local law.

Criticism focuses on potential regressivity and complexity, as charges can fall more heavily on lower-income households or tenants. Proponents argue that it creates price signals to reduce heat use and provides dedicated funding for heating networks and the transition to more sustainable energy sources.