Towards a financially healthy Netherlands
In 2024, nearly 510,000 households in the Netherlands were affected by energy poverty (TNO), and over 720,000 households were facing problematic debt (CBS). At Eneco, we believe it is important that people experiencing financial challenges can continue to participate in the energy transition. That is why we have applied a socially responsible debt collection policy for more than ten years. As a major collecting party, we take responsibility for supporting customers in vulnerable situations.
We shape this commitment together with partners. Eneco has been involved since the founding of SchuldenlabNL in initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing debt and financial stress.
We shape this commitment together with partners. Eneco has been involved since the founding of SchuldenlabNL in initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing debt and financial stress.
Partnership since 2016
The collaboration began back in 2016 with Schuldenlab070, an initiative in which public and private organizations worked together on social innovations addressing debt-related challenges. In the years that followed, we jointly helped establish initiatives such as the Dutch Debt Advice Route (Nederlandse Schuldhulproute), the National Coalition for Financial Health, and the Temporary Energy Emergency Fund (Tijdelijk Noodfonds Energie).In 2025, these initiatives were brought together under Stichting Financieel Gezond Nederland (SFGN). Within SFGN, more than 50 public and private partners collaborate on structural solutions that reduce financial vulnerability and scale proven approaches. Eneco continues its involvement through SFGN, contributing to the shared ambition of structurally improving financial health in the Netherlands.
Promoting financial health – inside and outside Eneco
Our efforts align with our broader intention to gradually reduce the collection fees we receive and reinvest these funds in initiatives focused on education, prevention, and support related to poverty, energy poverty, and debt. We continue to work with initiatives such as Geldfit (the Dutch Debt Advice Route).We also support financial health within our own organization, for example through the Eneco Social Fund for employees facing financial challenges.
What does socially responsible debt collection mean?
Socially responsible debt collection means engaging at an early stage to help customers keep payment issues manageable. We provide sustainable, tailored solutions aligned with each customer’s individual situation. This may include neighbourhood-based projects, practical guidance, and targeted referrals to support organizations.Eneco has been actively committed to this approach since 2015. As a result, the number of disconnection notifications for households has decreased by more than 85% over the past ten years.
