© Stadt Bocholt
Bocholt and Rhede strengthen municipal energy supply

11. April 2025City Hall

Supervisory boards recommend merger of municipal utilities

Bocholt and Rhede strengthen municipal energy supply // Gradual merger

The supervisory boards of Stadtwerke Bocholt and Rhede are clearly in favour of a merger of the two municipal utility companies. The city councils of both cities are now to decide on the implementation. The aim is to create a joint company that pools its strengths in the region - while maintaining the same security of supply. The merger is to take place gradually.

In July 2024, the city councils in Bocholt and Rhede had already passed identical resolutions in principle to merge Stadtwerke Rhede GmbH with Stadtwerke Bocholt GmbH.

The merger will strengthen the market position of both companies. It is also intended to create economic synergies and advantages when investing in future technologies. No changes for customers are initially planned. The merged company would serve around 43,000 electricity, 25,000 gas and 30,000 water customers.

Despite the merger, the swimming pools in Bocholt and Rhede will remain the responsibility of the respective towns. The same applies to Stadtbus Bocholt and the TOBI gas holdings. Jobs are to be safeguarded: As things stand, the merged municipal utilities would employ around 340 people, including 250 in Bocholt, 90 in Rhede and an additional 120 employees in the public baths.

Jürgen Elmer, currently Managing Director of Stadtwerke Bocholt, would take over the management of the new company. The new supervisory board would have 18 members - 11 from Bocholt, 6 from Rhede and one employee representative. The treasurer from Bocholt and the treasurer from Rhede would sit on the board in an advisory capacity. The committee would initially be chaired by Rhede.

The merger of Stadtwerke Rhede GmbH into Stadtwerke Bocholt GmbH will take place gradually as part of a so-called "adjusted transaction". The merger under company law is to be completed as early as 2025. The operational start of the merged company is planned for 1 January 2027 in order to comprehensively prepare for the necessary changes, particularly in the area of IT systems.