About VEMW

VEMW: Association for Energy, Environment and Water

Introduction
VEMW is a single-issue organization that focuses on the interest of industrial users of gas, electricity and water in The Netherlands. The added value of VEMW is to enable users to make their own choices including co-generation of electricity in an oligopolistic market. In other words: the industrial user is a player in the market and not just a spectator.

Environment for industrial users
The market continues to be characterized by a mix of monopolistic and oligopolistic suppliers of production, transport and distribution capacity;
Public ownership at national or local levels continues to be mixed with the Government task of market supervision and regulation, whereby the industrial users’ interests are not always adequately represented;
Dutch electricity price levels are higher than most of the key neighbour countries, putting the Dutch competitive position under pressure;
Further market supervision at European levels will be needed in order to ensure the functioning of various inter European markets*;
A rough estimate of the financial scope of VEMW’s area of impact amounts to € 150 million for water and € 600 million for energy.

The role of VEMW is
  • to secure a level playing field by improving access and liquidity of markets and to supply security;
  • to influence legislation, regulation and delivery conditions; to be a centre of competence and know how on gas, electricity and water for industrial users, who have to operate in a market with complex rules and regulations;
  • to represent Dutch user interests at a European level.
  • Operating mode of VEMW
  • VEMW is an association with over 600 member companies from the whole industrial spectrum, varying from steel mills, chemical industry to computer centres and hospitals.
  • Members pay an annual fee according to their economic interest in energy and water.
  • VEMW has a staff of 13 people, who are seen as professionals in their field.
  • Representatives of members support the development of positions which are then approved by the board.
  • VEMW has a website with detailed information, only accessible by members.
  • VEMW is considered as the main representative of the Dutch industry and is therefore member of the so called ‘user platform’; which must be consulted by the gas- and electricity industry and the regulator on defining general delivery and tariff conditions.
  • VEMW works closely with the branch employer’s organizations in order to avoid redundancy work.
Achievements

  • VEMW is considered the formal representative of Dutch industrial users, in consultations on general conditions and formal legal proceedings.
  • A network has been established to impact on legislation and policies, with Government, authorities and politicians.

Recent accomplishments are:

  • 25% reduction of gas transportation tariffs over a 5-year period;
  • Inclusion of own use for co-generation units in the reimbursement via the MEP-levy;
  • Obtaining a formal position in the consultation process for general conditions of gas and electricity deliveries in the ‘implementation law", approved in July 2004;
  • Expansion of operational limits for cooling water emissions during summer periods, limiting price volatility of electricity markets.
  • Reduction of the administrative burden on reporting obligations of electricity producers.

VEMW is a member of IFIEC: International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers
VEMW; Houttuinlaan 8; 3447 GM Woerden: tel: 0031 (0)348 484350; fax: 0031 (0)348 484390; e-mail: desk@vemw.nl
Route description.