The Collective Heat Act 2026: what changes and what does this mean for you?
The heat transition in the Netherlands is facing a major change. The new Heat Act – officially known as the Collective Heat Act (Wcw) – is expected to come into force on 1 January 2026. This act replaces the current Heat Act and places control more emphatically with municipalities. The goal: making heat supplies more affordable, reliable and sustainable. But what exactly changes with the Collective Heat Act 2026, and what does this mean for residents, businesses and heat companies?
What is the Collective Heat Act 2026?
The Collective Heat Act 2026 is the successor to the current Heat Act, which has been in force since 2014. The act was created to protect consumers who are connected to a heat network and have no free choice in supplier.
With the new act, the role of municipalities becomes much larger:
- Municipal control: Municipalities determine per district which heat company may construct and operate a heat network.
- Public ownership: At least 50% of a heat company must be in public hands (municipality, province or public partner).
- Cost-based tariffs: Heat tariffs are no longer linked to gas prices, but based on actual costs.
- Room for small networks: Small-scale cooperatives or projects up to 1,500 connections can fall outside the designation obligation under certain conditions.
Why a new Collective Heat Act?
The old Heat Act was heavily criticized because:
• Heat tariffs moved with gas prices, causing users to suddenly face high costs during the energy crisis.
• Municipalities had little influence, while they are responsible for the heat transition.
• There was little incentive for public interests and transparency in the heat market.
The new act should improve this by providing more control and certainty, both for residents and investors.
Benefits of the Collective Heat Act 2026 for residents
For residents of a home with district heating or another collective heat network, the Collective Heat Act 2026 means:
- Predictable tariffs: Tariffs are calculated based on costs and no longer linked to gas. This makes bills more stable and less dependent on fluctuations.
- More transparency: Heat companies must provide clear insight into costs and performance.
- Better protection: Small heat networks also fall under the act, giving residents more certainties.
Consequences for businesses and property owners
For businesses and property managers, the Collective Heat Act 2026 offers both opportunities and challenges:
- More certainty: Stable tariffs make it more attractive to connect buildings to heat networks.
- Obligations: Companies must take into account municipal plans that align with their sustainability strategy.
- Sustainability advantage: Connection to a heat network contributes to CO₂ reduction and can help comply with legislation such as CSRD reporting.
Consequences for heat companies and municipalities
For heat companies and municipalities, much changes:
- New forms of cooperation: Because at least 50% public ownership is mandatory, many heat companies will enter into partnerships with municipalities or public partners.
- Supervision and transparency: The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) supervises tariffs and costs.
- Investments and subsidies: Greater public involvement should lower the threshold for investments in new networks. Subsidies such as the Heat Networks Investment Subsidy (WIS) play an important role here.
The Collective Heat Act 2026 and small networks
An interesting development is that small networks (up to 1,500 connections), such as cooperative projects, get room to remain outside municipal designation. This makes it possible for local initiatives to realize their own heat network with more flexibility, provided consumer protection is well arranged.
Pros and cons of the Collective Heat Act 2026
Advantages:
- Better protection of residents and businesses.
- Predictable, cost-based tariffs.
- More public control and reliability.
- Room for innovation and small-scale projects.
Disadvantages and challenges:
- Municipalities must have sufficient capacity and knowledge to exercise control.
- Heat companies must adapt their business model to public ownership.
- Investments in new networks remain large and payback time long.
Example: heat networks as building blocks for the energy transition
The impact of the 2026 Heat Act is significant, but it also offers opportunities. An illustrative example is WarmtelinQ, a new heat transport network that will transport residual heat from the port of Rotterdam to cities such as The Hague and Leiden in the future. Construction of the first sections has already started, while other parts are still in the preparation or licensing phase. This shows how large-scale networks can contribute to sustainability. At the same time, smaller initiatives are emerging throughout the Netherlands, with local heat sources and energy cooperatives playing an important role.
The Collective Heat Act 2026 as a turning point
The Collective Heat Act 2026 marks a turning point in the Dutch heat transition. Through municipal control, public ownership and cost-based tariffs, heat networks become more reliable and transparent. For residents, this means more certainty, for businesses more predictability and for municipalities more responsibility.
The coming years will be crucial to gain experience with these new rules and to ensure that heat networks actually contribute to a sustainable, affordable and reliable energy supply.
Want to know more about the new rules for heat networks?
Also read our blog What changes from 2026 in district heating?
FAQ about the Collective Heat Act 2026
What is the Collective Heat Act 2026?
The Heat Act 2026, officially known as the Collective Heat Act (Wcw), is the revised legislation that is expected to apply to heat networks in the Netherlands from 1 January 2026. The Act places control in the hands of local authorities, mandates a minimum of 50% public ownership and introduces cost-based tariffs.
Why is there a new Collective Heat Act?
The current act linked tariffs to gas prices and offered little transparency. During the energy crisis, this led to high and unpredictable costs. With the new act, the government wants to offer predictable tariffs and more protection.
What does the Collective Heat Act 2026 mean for residents?
Residents get more certainty through more stable tariffs, better protection against excessive prices and more transparency in costs.
What changes for businesses and property owners?
Businesses benefit from predictable tariffs and the sustainability advantages of heat networks. However, they must take into account municipal control and possible connection obligations.
Are there also subsidies for heat networks in 2026?
Yes. The most important ones are the Heat Networks Investment Subsidy (WIS) and the ISDE scheme for homeowners. These make construction and connection financially more attractive.