Skip to content
Magazine
Friday, August 1, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
SUBSCRIBE

Laundromats raise prices due to energy bills: ‘Little room to save’

Shiva Singh by Shiva Singh
10 October 2022
in Brussels News

Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- Brussels laundromats fear the energy costs they will have to incur in the coming months. “In August I paid 14,000 euros in energy – five times as much as usual,” Sun Wash said. The chain is forced to raise prices.

Stefanie De Wilde is director of six Sun Wash laundries, two of which are large, in Ganshoren and in Schaerbeek. Since April she no longer has a permanent contract for gas and electricity. She knew that: in Schaerbeek she normally pays 2,800 euros on the energy bill. “In August it was five times as high: 14,000 euros.”

Sun Wash is forced to raise prices by 30 percent. “We can make it that way, but it’s not enough. We also use the company’s reserves,” says De Wilde, to a BRUZZ reporter. Placing solar panels is not an option, before they can install them, the asbestos must be removed from the roof. There is currently no money for a complete renovation of the roof.

“We have little room to manoeuvre,” says De Wilde. “We can’t wash in cold water.” For the time being, there are no premiums for laundromats. “We are very small entrepreneurs, but we use a lot of energy. Technical unemployment does not help us any further: laundromats often only have one employee.”

Indexing

“It’s not going well at all, I have huge costs,” said Thierry Perquy, the owner of Wash Express in Ixelles. Three types of new costs are piling up: in addition to the high energy bill, the owner has also implemented an indexation of the rent. In addition, Perquy pays tax on the drainage of the water, which has been increased.

The gas bill – laundromats mainly heat the water on gas – was 450 euros per month in May, says Perquy. In the months that followed, that amount was 1,700 euros: more than four times as much. “The price will continue to rise,” Perquy predicts. “I don’t know if I’ll be above zero next year.”

Previously rent was his biggest expense, now it’s gas bill. Perquy is also forced to pass on the costs to the customer. He has recently asked for an extra 30 percent for each wash and the drying cycle has also become slightly more expensive.

Perquy sees no way to conserve energy. “The only alternative is more economical machines, but they also take five times as long.” Perquy doubts whether the customers would still come and wash.

Led lamps

Luc Desplenter owns laundry WASHING’ton in the centre of town. He has already contacted the manufacturer of the washing machines to find out how he can use less energy. “I’ve been told that’s pretty much impossible.”

“I have installed LED lamps and there is no heating. The light switches off automatically at 10.30 pm. I pay 150 euros a month in energy costs, but I have not yet received the invoice. I do not know at all what to expect. It would be interesting if the energy company installed a digital metre.”

Desplenter also owns hotel Le Dixseptieme. “Engie has placed a counter there. If small consumers also had this, they would have more insight into the expenditure. Then they can count it monthly. So they may be faced with a surprise once, but not anymore. The small entrepreneur has to wait a year before he knows.”

Transparency

Customers also appear to be looking for more transparency. De Wilde has seen slightly more customers at Sun Wash lately. “Today’s consumers want to know exactly what they are going to pay,” she explains.

“Many customers come to us because they don’t know what they are going to pay at home. I even see customers returning who bought their own drying machine during the corona crisis, who are now returning to us, so they know what to pay.”

Related News:

  • Energy prices, why the market cannot save us
  • Save the entrepreneurs, save Europe
  • Minister Demir: Energy bills will not decrease
  • EU can save energy by shutting down factory farming, say NGOs
Tags: Brussels local newsenergy bills
Next Post

My diaries in Qatar- Reforms and Challenges - Dumitru-Viorel Focșa

Latest post

EU-elections-UK

EU elections: UK looks on from the “outside”

1 year ago
Galeries-Royales-Saint-Hubert

What Makes Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert an “Institution”?

1 year ago

Most Read

    Follow Brussels Morning
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

    Browse Important News

    Belgium News
    Brussels News
    Culture and Society News
    Economy News
    EU Institutions News
    European Commission News
    European Council News
    European Parliament News
    Europe News
    Health And Fitness News
    Southeast Europe News
    Sustainable Perspective
    World News
    Diplomacy News
    US Elections News

    About Us

    Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

    More Info

    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookies Policy

    Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2024

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Belgium News
      • Belgium Police News
      • Brussels News
    • Brussels Bubble
      • European Parliament News
      • European Commission News
      • European Council News
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World News
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT