STIB provided electricity without licence

Public transport company STIB has been supplying electricity to shopkeepers in metro stations for years, but does not have the licence to do so, writes L’Echo today. The company provides its own electricity by transforming high-tension power from its network cables into low-tension electricity. The company has not given tenants the right to choose their own electricity providers. Late last year, the regulatory body for energy in Brussels ordered STIB to rectify the situation. The company argues that there is no legal framework for this and has lodged a suspensive appeal with the Council of State. It points out that any insistence on shopkeepers using in-house electricity is for technical and security reasons.