22. June 2024
Press office
Stadtwerke Bocholt and Rhede reaffirm their intention to merge
Rhede/Bocholt. The city councils of Bocholt and Rhede will meet on Wednesday, 3 July. One item on the agenda at the meetings concerns both municipalities. A possible merger of the Bocholt and Rhede municipal utilities is on the agenda. The politicians can then set the course for a possible merger of the energy suppliers, which still operate independently today.
The companies hope that the merger will give them an even stronger position in the competitive energy supplier market. In addition to cost savings, this would also bring financial benefits in terms of investments in future technologies. Both Supervisory Board members emphasised that the goal is a "full merger on an equal footing", a "project of strength".
There would initially be no changes for customers of Stadtwerke Bocholt and Rhede. A merged company would currently have around 43,000 electricity, 25,000 gas and 30,000 water customers.
If politicians give their approval, the merger could be completed in the course of 2025 (possibly with retroactive effect from 1 January 2025).
Not all business areas would be affected: the swimming pools of both cities and Stadtbus Bocholt would remain under the control of the respective cities.
A merger would not result in job losses. On the contrary, according to the supervisory boards, the move would help to secure jobs. The merged municipal utilities would employ around 340 people, consisting of 250 employees in Bocholt and around 90 in Rhede. In addition, there would be around 120 employees at the public baths.
Jürgen Elmer, currently Managing Director of Bocholter Stadtwerke, would be appointed Managing Director of the merged company. Marcel Radmacher from Rhe de would be his deputy .
The supervisory board of a merged company would consist of 18 members - 11 from Bocholt (10 members plus the mayor), 6 from Rhede (5 members plus the mayor) and an employee representative. The treasurer from Bocholt and the treasurer from Rhede would be advisory members of the board, which would initially be chaired by Bocholt.
On 3 July, the councillors will therefore decide whether they want to pave the way for concrete merger negotiations.
Stadtwerke Bocholt Group: www.stadtwerke-bocholt.de
Stadtwerke Rhede: www.stadtwerke-rhede.de