ERE (emissiereductie-eenheden, Emission Reduction Units) is a Dutch scheme that can earn you money with the electricity your charger delivers. Every charged kWh can be turned into a tradeable certificate that fuel companies are required to buy. This page explains how it works and how to activate it via Plugchoice.
ERE is a Dutch scheme under the EU RED III directive, run by the Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa). It only applies to charge points located in the Netherlands.
What are EREs?
When you charge an EV, you save CO2 compared to driving on petrol or diesel. That saving can be registered with the NEa as Emission Reduction Units. Fuel companies must buy these units to meet their legal reduction targets, and that is where your payout comes from.
ERE replaced the older HBE system in 2026. The big change: private households and small businesses can now take part too, not just large charging operators.
Who is it for?
Anyone with an eligible charge point in the Netherlands: homeowners, businesses, VvE's (owners' associations) and charge point operators. Installers and partners can offer it to their customers.
One rule matters for signing up: the right to register EREs belongs to the holder of the electricity connection, the person or organisation named on the energy contract (the EAN code). At home that is usually you. In an apartment building it is often the VvE, and on business premises the company that holds the connection.
What do you need?
A charge point with a MID certified kWh meter (built in or externally installed)
The charge point is located in the Netherlands
An internet connection for the charger (WiFi, LAN or 4G) and a connection to Plugchoice
You are the holder of the electricity connection (or have the holder sign the authorisation)
MID (Measuring Instruments Directive) is the European certification for measuring accuracy. Only electricity measured by a MID certified meter counts for ERE registration.
Which Volt Time chargers qualify?
One Business: yes, built-in MID certified meter
Two Pro: yes, MID certified meters on both connectors
One: no MID meter. You can request a MID swap, see below.
Older models: see Is my charger MID certified?
Other charger brands
Yes, other brands work too. Plugchoice works with many OCPP chargers (for example Alfen, Zaptec, Peblar and Wallbox), depending on model, firmware and configuration. The same MID requirement applies: check your charger's specifications for "MID". Plugchoice shows a warning when a charger at the location has no MID meter or when we cannot confirm it, but that information can contain errors, so check it with the manufacturer.
Who does what?
Plugchoice records your charging sessions in the format the NEa requires and forwards them to the booking service you choose. You decide with which booking service your data is shared, and you can change or withdraw that choice at any time. Plugchoice charges nothing for this, does not do the booking itself, is not a verifier and never locks you to one provider. Plugchoice is not a party to your agreement with the booking service and gives no view or guarantee on credits or payouts.
The booking service (inboekdienstverlener) registers the EREs at the NEa on your behalf, sells the certificates and pays you out, minus their commission. You give them an authorisation for this.
An independent verifier (verificateur) audits the booking service's records every year.
The NEa (Dutch Emissions Authority) runs the register and sets the rules.
Activating ERE step by step
Connect your charger to Plugchoice. Volt Time chargers are already connected. For other brands, create a free account (with your email, Google or Apple) and add your charger with Add charger. From that moment your sessions are recorded correctly, which matters: sessions that are not recorded cannot become EREs later.
Open the ERE section. In the app, go to Overview, press the gear icon (Location settings) and then ERE. In the web portal, open the location and go to Energy > Emission credits (ERE). It is set per location and shown for locations in the Netherlands, so switch to the right location first.
Choose a booking service. Compare the providers shown, including their commission, contract duration and payout frequency, and pick the one that fits you. Providers listed as Manual do not connect to Plugchoice: you export your sessions in the web portal (Transactions > Export) and submit them on their website.
Give your authorisation. Start the connection, follow the steps on the booking service's website and grant them access to your charging data. Have your EAN code ready (it is on your energy bill).
Done. Everything now runs automatically. The connection is shown as connected on the ERE screen of the location. If it is not shown as connected, the permission step was not completed: run through it again.
The connection applies per location. If you have several locations, repeat the steps for each one.
Costs, earnings and payout
Plugchoice charges nothing for ERE registration.
Your booking service charges a commission on the proceeds. Rates differ per provider and are shown before you choose.
Earnings depend on the market. ERE certificates are traded, so the price per kWh varies. Nothing is guaranteed. For an indication, use the calculator on volttime.com/solutions/ere.
Payout timing differs per booking service, most pay out yearly after the certificates for the previous calendar year have been verified and sold. Registration follows the calendar year; your booking service can register everything recorded in that year retroactively.
For questions about your booking, your payout or its status, contact your booking service directly: they handle everything after the data leaves Plugchoice.
Available now and coming later
Available now: the full flow described above is live. You can connect your charger, compare the booking services shown in the app and give your authorisation today.
Coming later: more booking services are being added to the comparison, and the range of supported meters keeps growing.
No MID meter?
If your charge point turns out not to have a MID certified meter, you have two options:
Volt Time One owners can request a MID swap via volttime.com/solutions/ere. We contact you with the options for your situation.
Other chargers can sometimes be made eligible with an externally installed MID meter. Ask your installer, or contact us via the messenger.
Get started
Charger owners: log in or create a free account at app.plugchoice.com (with your email, Google or Apple), open the location and go to Energy > Emission credits (ERE).
Installers and partners: offer ERE to your customers through the partner program. You do not need any ERE expertise yourself.
No MID meter? Request a swap via volttime.com/solutions/ere.
Frequently asked questions
Who signs the authorisation with a lease car, a VvE or at a business?
Who signs the authorisation with a lease car, a VvE or at a business?
Always the holder of the electricity connection. Lease car at home: you sign, as long as the connection is in your name The proceeds go to the holder of the connection (the EAN), so to you, not to your employer. VvE or apartment building: an authorised board member of the VvE signs. Business premises: an authorised signatory of the company that holds the connection.
Can I register EREs myself, without a booking service?
Can I register EREs myself, without a booking service?
Only parties that meet the NEa thresholds can register directly: at least 2,000,000 kWh per year or at least 200 authorisations. For almost everyone else a booking service is the way in.
Can I switch booking services?
Can I switch booking services?
Yes. You can withdraw your authorisation and connect a different provider; your charger stays connected to Plugchoice while you switch. Check the contract duration with your current booking service first. Already registered EREs stay with the old registration.
I have solar panels. Does that change my earnings?
I have solar panels. Does that change my earnings?
For private households the NEa uses the national grid average for the renewable share, regardless of your own panels. For businesses with the right metering, directly consumed solar power can qualify for a higher share. Your booking service can tell you what applies to you.
Does my current backoffice keep working?
Does my current backoffice keep working?
Through the OCPP proxy, Plugchoice can run alongside your backoffice (for example E-Flux, Last Mile Solutions or Robo Charge), but we cannot guarantee that every backoffice keeps working alongside it. Your charger must connect to Plugchoice directly: if it reaches Plugchoice through another backend, we give no support or functions for that connection. A backoffice is not required for ERE: Plugchoice alone is enough.
Where is my payout?
Where is my payout?
Payouts come from your booking service, not from Plugchoice or Volt Time. Contact your booking service with your registration details; you can see which one is connected on the ERE screen of the location.