The Dutch government unveiled details of its planned energy price cap for households on Tuesday, along with outlines of a subsidy system aimed at easing pain for energy-intensive small and medium-sized businesses.
The moves come amid rising gas and electricity prices due to the Russian war in Ukraine, and moves across Europe to control high energy bills that have forced some companies in the Netherlands to halt production.
The Dutch government said that the consumer price ceiling is scheduled to come into effect in January, with a maximum electricity price of 0. 40 euros ($0. 40) per kilowatt-hour, while the maximum gas price will be 1. 45 euros ($1. 45) per cubic metre.
Households will have to pay market rates for any gas they use each month over 1,200 cubic meters or electricity over 2,900 kWh.
The government also said that the cap should save a family with an average energy use around 2,500 euros in 2023.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva that “this situation substantially affects the humanitarian response” and that “the situation is spreading rapidly, and there may be previous illnesses, but they were not recognised.”
The death toll is probably “far higher.
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