Energy Compensation (2023 students)

In 2023, the Dutch government has implemented regulations protect citizens against the tremendous increase in energy prices. For citizens with an individual energy connection, this took place via the energy contract. For citizens with a group connection, such as UCU students, there was the option in 2024 to submit a collective application for compensation. On behalf of all students, UCU has applied for this compensation. Said applications have since all been approved, amounting to almost €700.000,-. In close consultation with UU’s tax and legal specialists and UCU student council, we have determined a process for how to pay this compensation to eligible students.

Compensation is to be distributed to individual residents according to the following timeline:

Initial Notice

Reaction Period

Individual Confirmations

Objection Period

Payments

Early January 2025

Until February 15th, 2025

Jan-Feb (rolling basis)

Until end of Feb – minimum of two weeks after confirmation

Spring 2025 (rolling basis)

The funds will be distributed among UCU residents - specifically, all students who paid UCU campus fees in 2023 (calendar year). This includes past and present UCU students, those on exchange at UCU, and UU students staying in UCU housing. If you did not pay any campus fees - e.g., because you lived off campus, were on exchange away from UCU, or were paying rent to Lekstede rather than UCU – you are not eligible. Please note that this is a one-off government scheme for the year 2023. These schemes are not be available for 2024 and 2025.

Compensation will be determined based on how many months you campus paid fees for. Note that this may not reflect the months you were residing on campus/enrolled for – as may be the case for those who discontinued their studies or went on Leave of Absence during a semester.

Claims can be made by filling out the Energy Compensation form. To be eligible for compensation, you must fill this out before February 15th, 2025.

UCU will do its best to reach all potential claimants (including alumni and previous exchange students) until said date. In addition to these efforts, you are encouraged to share this information with eligible applicants who may have missed out on this news.

After filling out the form, all applicants will first receive individual confirmation of the amount due. Objections to this confirmation – if, for example, we miscalculated your stay - may be made by emailing ucu.energy@uu.nl. There is no final deadline set yet for the objection period, as this depends on when the last confirmation is sent. All claimants, however, will have a minimum of two weeks after receiving their own confirmation.

Processing all claims will take time - payments are to take place during the Spring of 2025.

Any questions or concerns can be sent to ucu.energy@uu.nl.