Electrical work in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia

Checked on 2 October 2026

1. In the Brussels region, the distribution system operator, Sibelga, owns the electricity connection and the meter, and neither owns nor is responsible for the installations downstream of the connection, unless otherwise agreed.

   Source:brugel.brussels

2. In the Brussels region, for an electricity outage or a gas leak or smell, Bruxelles Environnement refers people to Sibelga, reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

   Source:environnement.brussels

3. In the Brussels region, Sibelga installs a smart meter in particular for a connection in a new or substantially renovated building, when replacing an old meter, for a prosumer, a heat pump, electric vehicle charging, consumption above 6,000 kWh a year, or at the user’s request.

   Source:brugel.brussels

Checked on 2 October 2026

1. In Flanders, Fluvius, as distribution system operator, owns the connection, whether or not the network user contributed to its cost or works; the finished meter cabinet (connection and metering module) becomes Fluvius’s property once commissioned.

   Source:fluvius.be

2. In Flanders, a fault in the home’s own installation calls for an electrician; if the fault is on the distribution network or in the electricity meter, Fluvius steps in. According to Fluvius, if the neighbours also have no power, the problem lies with the distribution network.

   Source:fluvius.be

3. In Flanders, the installation of a digital meter cannot be refused. Since 1 July 2019, Fluvius has only installed digital meters for electricity and natural gas.

   Source:fluvius.be

4. In Flanders, since 1 January 2023, part of the electricity network tariffs has been calculated on the basis of peak consumption (the capacity tariff). Everyone pays it, including those without a digital meter, except protected customers on the social tariff.

   Source:fluvius.be

Checked on 2 October 2026

1. In Wallonia, the electricity distribution network is managed by the distribution system operator (DSO, gestionnaire de réseau de distribution) designated for each area: AIEG, AIESH, ORES, RESA or Réseau d’Énergies de Wavre (REW). The DSO operates, maintains and develops the network, handles metering and deals with any outages.

   Source:cwape.be

2. In Wallonia, the electricity connection is the set of equipment linking the network user’s installations to the network, generally including the metering installations. The network operator is responsible for metering and for installing and maintaining meters.

   Source:wallex.wallonie.be

3. In Wallonia, the network operator puts a new connection into service only if a supply contract has been signed and, for electricity, if the installation’s inspection report from an approved body has been provided.

   Source:cwape.be

4. In Wallonia, ORES asks its customers facing a power cut to first check that the fault does not come from their indoor installation; if there is still no power or the outage seems general, it is reported to ORES on 078 78 78 00.

   Source:ores.be

5. In Wallonia, the distribution system operator installs a communicating (smart) meter at every supply point, unless access is impossible or installation is technically impossible or not economically reasonable. By 31 December 2029 at the latest, each operator must reach the target of one hundred percent communicating meters installed on its network.

   Source:wallex.wallonie.be

6. In Wallonia, the meter’s communication function is activated when the meter is installed, unless the network user refuses. The user may refuse activation or ask for the communication function to be deactivated.

   Source:wallex.wallonie.be

Checked on 28 September 2026

1. In Belgium, when a dwelling unit is sold, the seller must have a control visit of the electrical installation carried out. This obligation only concerns old domestic installations that have not had a conformity examination, or a complete one, after 1 October 1981.

   Source:economie.fgov.be

2. The control visit that is the seller’s responsibility takes place between the preliminary sale agreement and the deed of sale. It must be carried out by an approved inspection body.

   Source:economie.fgov.be

3. If the report of the sale control visit is negative, the seller is not obliged to bring the electrical installation into compliance. From the date of the notarial deed, the buyer informs the approved inspection body that carried out the visit of his or her identity and of the date of the deed of sale.

   Source:economie.fgov.be

4. If the sale control visit finds infringements, the buyer has 18 months from the date of the deed of sale to bring the electrical installation into compliance and to have a new control visit carried out by an approved inspection body of his or her choice.

   Source:economie.fgov.be

5. If the new control visit is negative, the buyer has 12 months from the date of the inspection to remedy the infringements. Within that period, the buyer must have a follow-up visit carried out by the same approved inspection body.

   Source:economie.fgov.be

6. If the new control visit is positive, the next inspection must take place within 25 years, unless important modifications or extensions are made to the electrical installation.

   Source:economie.fgov.be

7. For a dwelling whose electrical installation was adapted after 1 October 1981, Book 1 of the RGIE / AREI only requires, at the sale, that the owner hands over the electrical installation file to the new owner.

   Source:economie.fgov.be

8. In Belgium, once a first inspection has established that a domestic electrical installation is compliant, a periodic inspection must be carried out every 25 years.

   Source:economie.fgov.be

9. In Belgium, a conformity inspection must be carried out before putting into use a new electrical installation, a temporary, mobile or transportable installation (for example a site distribution box) and an important modification or extension (for example adding a circuit to a distribution board).

   Source:economie.fgov.be

10. If the conformity inspection before first use finds infringements, the electrical installation or the part concerned may not be put into use. The infringements must then be remedied and a new conformity inspection carried out before first use.

    Source:economie.fgov.be

11. An important modification or extension of an electrical installation, for example adding a circuit or replacing a distribution board with a non-identical one, requires a conformity inspection by an approved inspection body before first use.

    Source:economie.fgov.be

12. A minor modification or extension, for example adding a socket outlet to an existing circuit, does not require a conformity inspection by an approved inspection body before first use.

    Source:economie.fgov.be

13. In Belgium, at an inspection of the electrical installation, at least the single-line diagrams and the position plans of the installation must be handed over, together with the EAN code of the connection shown on the bill, if available.

    Source:economie.fgov.be

14. For any new domestic electrical installation, or any important modification or extension of an existing domestic installation, the person responsible for carrying out the work draws up the single-line diagrams and the position plans of the installation.

    Source:ejustice.just.fgov.be

15. The single-line diagrams and the position plans are part of the electrical installation file, drawn up in two copies, which also contains the inspection reports issued by an approved inspection body.

    Source:economie.fgov.be

16. In Belgium, in a co-owned building, where the title deeds are silent or contradictory, the parts of buildings or land used by all co-owners, or by some of them, are deemed to be common parts.

    Source:ejustice.just.fgov.be

17. Co-ownership charges, in particular maintenance, repair and renovation costs, are shared according to the respective value of each private unit, unless the parties decide to share them in proportion to the usefulness for each private unit.

    Source:ejustice.just.fgov.be

18. The syndic (building manager) is responsible for carrying out, and having carried out, the decisions of the general assembly, and for performing all protective acts and all acts of provisional management.

    Source:ejustice.just.fgov.be

19. In Belgium, each co-owner has a legal, free-of-charge right to install, maintain or renew cables, pipes and associated equipment in or on the common parts, where the works aim to optimise the infrastructure of the private units concerned for energy, water or telecommunications and the other co-owners bear no financial cost.

    Source:ejustice.just.fgov.be

20. To use this right, the co-owner sends a description of the planned works to the other co-owners or to the syndic by registered mail at least two months before the works start. Within two months of receipt, the co-owners or the association of co-owners may object on the basis of a legitimate interest.

    Source:ejustice.just.fgov.be