What ORES does

ORES is the regulated electricity and natural gas distribution network operator serving Wallonia, Belgium. It operates the physical low-voltage electricity and local gas distribution infrastructure for nearly 200 municipalities — covering more than 75% of Walloon communes — and reaches 2.7 million residents through approximately 30 operational sites and a workforce of around 2,700 employees. The company also manages communal public street lighting networks across these municipalities. ORES is a cooperative (Genossenschaft/cvba) 100% owned by ORES Assets, itself a cooperative intercommunal company formed on December 31, 2013 from the merger of eight regional intercommunales (IDEG, IEH, IGH, INTEREST, INTERLUX, INTERMOSANE, SEDILEC, SIMOGEL). The ORES Assets parent entity is in turn owned by eight pure financing intercommunales (Idefin, CENEO, Finest, Sofilux, Finimo, IPFBW, IEG, IFIGA) representing Walloon municipalities.

The company's product and technology base centers on regulated distribution services augmented by innovation pillars: smart/communicating digital meters enabling real-time consumption data, AI-driven grid optimization (predictive analytics for renewable generation, demand anticipation, anomaly detection), an energy sharing platform for local prosumers and consumers, flexibility and balancing systems (FlexHub) for interconnection with the national grid, and forward-looking projects in green hydrogen, synthetic gases, carbon capture (the Molecules project), and district heating. Customer-facing digital infrastructure includes the myORES portal for self-service account management.

ORES earns revenue entirely through regulated activities: distribution tariffs on electricity (28% of an average household bill of €1,200/year) and natural gas (35 of an average €1,400/year gas bill), approved by CWaPE under the 2025-2029 methodology; prosumer tariffs on solar installations ≤10 kVA; injection tariffs at multiple voltage levels; connection and works fees; and municipal public lighting service obligations in nearly 200 communes. Tariffs are passed through to end customers via their energy supplier's invoice — ORES does not sell energy itself. Customer segments span residential (Particulier), professional and SMB (PME), public authorities (communes, CPAS, Walloon government), and large enterprises/industrial customers, each served through tailored channels ranging from the myORES portal and contact centers to dedicated account managers and physical bureaux d'accueil.

Name

ORES

Legal name

ORES, Genossenschaft

Website

https://ores.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

ORES is the regulated electricity and natural gas distribution network operator for Wallonia, Belgium, serving 2.7 million residents across nearly 200 municipalities (>75% coverage) with a workforce of approximately 2,700 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Distribution Network Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Utilities (22)

SIC

Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Investor-Owned Electric Distribution Utilities (IOUs) (EUADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal / Public Gas Distribution Systems (TLAGADAB), Service Renewals, Relocations & Upgrades (Capacity/Pressure Changes) (EUAJACAB), District Energy & Community CHP (District Heating/Cooling Networks) (EUACAKAH)

Keywords

• Electricity distribution network
• Natural gas distribution
• Distribution system operator
• Smart metering services
• Public lighting management

Headquarters

HQ city

Gosselies

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Regulated Electricity Distribution Tariffs: ORES collects regulated distribution tariffs from electricity customers for the transport of electricity through its local distribution network. Tariffs are approved by CWaPE. The distribution component represents approximately 28% of an average household electricity bill of €1,200/year (€339).
2. Regulated Gas Distribution Tariffs: ORES collects regulated distribution tariffs from natural gas customers for local gas transport through its distribution network. Tariffs are approved by CWaPE. The distribution component represents approximately 35% of an average household gas bill of €1,400/year (€485).
3. Public Street Lighting Network Management: ORES operates and maintains the communal public street lighting network in nearly 200 municipalities across Wallonia, funded through municipal service obligations.
4. Prosumer Tariff: Prosumers (customers with solar panels ≤10 kVA) pay a capacity-based prosumer tariff for their use of the distribution network for electricity offtake. Partially compensated by Walloon Region premiums.
5. Injection Tariffs: Producers injecting electricity or biomethane into the distribution network pay injection tariffs. Tariffs apply at various voltage levels (T-MS, MS, T-LS, LS). Small LS installations ≤10 kVA are exempt.
6. Connection and Works Fees: ORES charges fees for new electricity and gas connections and related works. These fees fund the installation, maintenance, and repair of cables and equipment needed to bring energy to customers' premises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ORES operates and maintains the regulated electricity and natural gas distribution networks across nearly 200 municipalities in Wallonia, Belgium, connecting approximately 2.7 million residents through over 730,000 access points. It also manages municipal public lighting networks, deploys and operates smart (communicating) meters, delivers grid connections and works services, and is investing in AI-driven grid management, energy sharing platforms, district heating studies, solar canopy generation, and hydrogen pilot projects to support Wallonia's energy transition.

Product overview

ORES is the leading electricity and gas distribution network operator in Wallonia, Belgium, serving nearly 200 cities and municipalities. The company operates as a subsidiary of ORES Assets and offers a comprehensive suite of energy distribution services including electricity and gas network management, municipal public lighting, and smart metering infrastructure. ORES's product portfolio centers on core distribution services enhanced by innovation pillars including AI-powered dynamic network management, energy sharing platforms, flexibility and grid balancing solutions, and emerging technologies like green hydrogen and district heating. Customer-facing offerings include the myORES online portal, smart/communicating meters with multiple tariff options (monohoraire, bihoraire, and the new Impact tariff), AMR meters for professional customers, and prosumer tariffs for customers with local renewable energy production. The company also implements social programs like SMART USERS to ensure inclusive energy transition. ORES serves approximately 2.7 million Walloons through about 30 locations across Wallonia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electricity distribution network service Regulated operation and maintenance of the electricity distribution network delivering power to residential, professional, and public-authority customers across Wallonia, billed via suppliers through CWaPE-approved distribution tariffs.
• Natural gas distribution network service Regulated operation and maintenance of the natural gas distribution network serving residential, professional, and public-authority customers across Wallonia, billed via suppliers through CWaPE-approved distribution tariffs.
• Public lighting network management Management, maintenance, and modernization of municipal public lighting infrastructure offered to Walloon municipalities and public authorities as a contracted service.
• Smart (communicating) meters Communicating meters installed at customer access points to enable remote reading, automated consumption data, and activation of prosumer and energy-sharing tariffs for residential and professional customers.
• AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) meters Automatic Meter Reading devices available to professional customers for more frequent and detailed measurement of electricity and gas consumption, supporting better energy management for businesses.
• myORES customer portal and mobile app Online portal and mobile application providing residential and professional customers with self-service access to consumption data, meter readings, energy sharing activation, prosumer tariff enrollment, and administrative requests.
• Energy sharing platform Platform enabling prosumers to share self-generated renewable energy with other customers within a defined sharing perimeter, paired with a dedicated prosumer tariff.
• Connections and works services On-demand grid connection and works services for new residential connections, professional sites, and public authority infrastructure, including requests for new or modified access to the electricity and gas networks.

Quantifiable outcome

• ORES manages distribution networks serving 2.7 million Walloon residents
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ORES Assets (ORES Assets, Coopérative à Responsabilité Limitée)coreOthersORES is 100% owned by ORES Assets, a cooperative intercommunal company with limited liability. ORES Assets is the parent company that holds all shares in ORES. The registered office is Avenue Jean Mermoz 14, 6041 Gosselies, VAT BE 0543.696.579.
• ComnexiocoreTechnology or IntegrationComnexio is the contact center subsidiary of ORES Assets, providing total solutions for customer interaction management — both through the development of interactive multi-channel applications and through outsourcing of customer contact management (internet, contact center, social networks). ORES and Comnexio work together to serve end customers.
• EliacoreTechnology or IntegrationElia is the Belgian electricity transmission network operator, responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing the high-voltage electricity grid including interconnections. Elia also manages local transmission networks at 30-70 kV voltage levels on behalf of the Belgian regions. ORES relies on Elia for the transmission component of electricity delivered to end customers.
• FluxyscoreTechnology or IntegrationFluxys is the independent operator of natural gas transmission infrastructure in Belgium. It manages the high-pressure gas pipeline network. ORES relies on Fluxys for the transport component of natural gas delivered to end customers through its distribution network.
• CWaPE (Commission Wallonne Pour l'Energie)coreOthersCWaPE is the official regulatory authority for electricity and gas markets in Wallonia. It oversees the various energy market actors and approves distribution and transport tariffs. ORES's tariffs and operations are regulated and approved by CWaPE.
• CREG (Commission de Régulation de l'Électricité et du Gaz)coreOthersCREG is the federal regulatory authority for electricity and gas markets in Belgium. It approves maximum and social tariffs, and oversees the national energy market. ORES operates under CREG oversight for certain tariff approvals.
• AtriascoreTechnology or IntegrationAtrias is a neutral and objective platform for consultation and data exchange between network operators, suppliers, and regional regulators. It prepares the Belgian energy market for new developments (smart meters, increasing local and renewable production) and addresses future challenges. ORES participates in the Atrias data exchange ecosystem.
• University of Mons (Université de Mons)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerORES collaborated with the University of Mons on the SMART USERS project (2017-2021), which assessed the impact of smart meters on vulnerable communities and average consumers. The study involved 500 households and included qualitative and quantitative analysis of energy consumption.
• Eight Pure Financing Intercommunales (IPF): Idefin, CENEO, Finest (Finost), Sofilux, Finimo, IPFBW, IEG, IFIGAcoreOthersEight pure financing intercommunales (IPF) manage the financial participations of affiliated Walloon municipalities in the energy distribution networks. They include: Idefin (Namur), CENEO (Hainaut), Finest (East Cantons), Sofilux (Luxembourg Province), Finimo (Liège Province), IPFBW (Walloon Brabant), IEG (Mouscron/Comines-Warneton), IFIGA (former Gaselwest communes). These IPFs collectively own ORES Assets, and hence ORES.
• Walloon municipalities and CPAS (Public Centres for Social Welfare)coreOthersORES serves nearly 200 Walloon communes and their associated CPAS bodies. Communes are served for public street lighting management, network connections, and energy transition initiatives. CPAS bodies may receive special support for vulnerable customer energy access.
• Social stakeholders and local authoritiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerORES works with social stakeholders and local authorities in projects like SMART USERS to provide continuous information and support to users, particularly those in social and economic hardship, to help them participate in the energy transition.
• SPW – Direction Générale Opérationnelle de l'Énergie (DGO4)coreOthersThe Walloon Public Service (SPW) Direction Générale de l'Énergie is the regional government body overseeing energy policy. ORES coordinates with SPW on energy transition projects, distribution network planning, and regulatory compliance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Others

• Atrias: Atrias is the neutral Belgian data exchange platform connecting all DSOs (including ORES), suppliers, and regulators. Comparable as a core enabling infrastructure partner for ORES's market operations, but not a competitor — included as an ecosystem participant that shapes how ORES interacts with the broader Belgian energy market.
• ENGIE (Electrabel): ENGIE is a major French-headquartered global utility with Belgian operations (formerly Electrabel) active across generation, supply, and increasingly distribution-adjacent services. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in the Belgian energy market, though ORES is functionally distinct as a regulated DSO.

Regional players

• Alliander: Alliander is the largest Dutch DSO, operating electricity and gas distribution networks across much of the Netherlands. Comparable as a regulated European DSO investing heavily in smart meters, grid digitalization, and energy transition infrastructure, though serving a different national market.
• Stromnetz Berlin: Stromnetz Berlin is the Berlin municipal DSO, owned by the city of Berlin. It is comparable as a publicly/municipally-owned urban DSO operating electricity distribution under a regulated framework, with similar smart-meter and renewable-integration mandates.
• Enexis: Enexis is a major Dutch regional DSO providing electricity and gas distribution in the northern and southern Netherlands. Comparable in business model (regulated DSO investing in smart meters and grid modernization), but geographically focused on the Dutch market rather than Belgium.

Direct peers

• RESA: RESA is a regulated electricity and gas distribution network operator serving the Liège region of Wallonia. It is a direct in-region peer to ORES, offering overlapping regulated distribution services to residential, professional, and industrial customers under the same CWaPE tariff framework.
• Fluvius (formerly Eandis / Infrax): Fluvius is the largest distribution network operator in Flanders, Belgium, providing electricity, gas, and cable distribution to millions of customers. It is the closest functional peer to ORES, operating under the same Belgian regulatory architecture but in the Flemish Region — making it a direct mirror of ORES's Walloon operations.

Broad incumbents

• Fluxys Belgium: Fluxys is the Belgian natural gas transmission infrastructure operator and a core upstream partner of ORES for gas transport. Comparable as a regulated Belgian gas utility, though operating at the high-pressure transmission level rather than local distribution.
• Elia Group: Elia is the Belgian high-voltage electricity transmission system operator (TSO) and ORES's upstream partner for grid interconnection. While Elia operates the transmission layer and ORES operates the distribution layer, both are regulated Belgian grid utilities serving the same end customers through complementary infrastructure.
• EnBW Netze: EnBW is a major integrated German utility with a substantial regulated distribution network business (EnBW Netze). Comparable as a European regulated DSO with extensive smart-meter deployment, renewable integration, and district-heating exposure — though operating at much larger scale within Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6tcI2x_5VaGaofME3tXMnA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ores.be
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ores
• Instagraminstagram.com/ores_officiel
• Xx.com/_ORES_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ORES