NOS
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 14:28
More than half of households have a permanent contract for electricity and gas again. This is the first time in more than a year, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) reports based on figures from the beginning of last month.
In the last month of 2023, the number of households with a fixed energy contract increased by approximately 300,000. As a result, at the beginning of January there were more than 3.7 million households with a permanent contract. Last March there were about two million. Due to high energy prices, far fewer permanent contracts were offered at the time.
The number of dynamic contracts has been more or less stable for some time. These are agreements in which households benefit immediately from price drops, but also run the risk that prices will rise again the next day or even the next hour.
Contracts with a variable price became almost 1.5 percent cheaper last month, ACM reports. The decrease for permanent contracts is even greater. Under these agreements, the price for gas fell by about 5.5 percent and that for electricity by 7 to 10 percent, depending on the term.
30 percent more expensive
The price differences between suppliers are still large, the ACM emphasizes. At one electricity and gas provider, prices are even about 30 percent above average. This is the case with annual contracts from the Hollandse Energie Maatschappij (HEM).
Last year, that company came under increased supervision by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets. The energy provider was summoned by the regulator to quickly get its administration in order and quickly pay out people who were still owed money.
2024-02-08 13:28:28
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