Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables includes mainly amounts receivable from customers and amounts not yet invoiced (contract assets) for the provision of transmission services.

This item can be broken down as follows:

Note 33.2 Credit risk states the age and impairments of the trade receivables and contract assets.

Trade receivables increased by € 5 million compared with the preceding year. This increase was mainly attributable to a higher gross position of the receivables from energy companies due to higher revenue in December 2019 and the reduction of the bad debts provision as a result of a withdrawal from the provision related to old amounts outstanding.

In addition, a higher balance of prepaid amounts is outstanding, as a result of higher prepayments. A higher balance is also outstanding for amounts not yet invoiced (non-energy) of € 5 million. This balance is due to a receivable in respect of the purchaser of Joulz Diensten concerning sold leased transformers on which discussions with the tax authorities are ongoing.

Lastly, the work in progress position increased compared with the previous year, due to more projects in progress at year-end 2019.