What is the capacity tariff and how can I manage it?
Capacity Tariff in Belgium: What You Need to Know
In Belgium, electricity isn’t just billed based on how much you use overall. You also pay a capacity tariff, based on your highest power peak each month.
How Is It Calculated?
- Each month, your highest 15-minute usage is tracked.
- That number is multiplied by 4 to estimate your usage over an hour.
- The result (in kW) is logged for that month.
- After 12 months, the average of those monthly peaks is calculated.
- You pay around €50 per kW per year based on that average.
Example Calculation
|
Month |
Highest 15-min peak (kW) |
Multiplied by 4 |
Monthly result (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
January |
3.5 |
3.5 × 4 |
14 |
|
February |
3.0 |
3 × 4 |
12 |
|
… |
… |
… |
… |
|
December |
2.0 |
2 × 4 |
8 |
- Average over the year: 10 kWh
- Annual cost: 10 × €50 = €500
Important: One short peak can significantly increase your yearly fee —
even if your total usage stays low.
EV Charging and Power Peaks
Charging your electric vehicle at home can cause a temporary peak in consumption, which may raise your capacity tariff.
To prevent this, you can set a maximum charge power for your car.
- This ensures your EV charging won’t push your peak over the limit.
- It only affects the car — other appliances in your home are not included in this setting.
How to Set a Limit in the App
Note: This feature is only available if your charging point is set to a Belgian location and applies only to Blue Current chargers.
Here’s how to set it up:
1. Go to my.bluecurrent.nl or open the Blue Current app.
2. Tap ‘Charge Points’.
- On mobile: Select your charger name or BCU number.
- On desktop: Click the three dots next to the charger and choose ‘Settings’.
3. Toggle the switch for Capacity Tariff to on (green).
You’re now in control of your EV’s impact on your capacity costs.