ACM: energy suppliers’ power disclosure labels regarding green power are now completely in order

Most Dutch energy suppliers have published on their websites on time (before May 1, 2020) their power disclosure labels (also called power content labels) for the year 2019, and the majority of those power disclosure labels meet the statutory requirements. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) ordered suppliers that had not complied with those requirements before, to publish on their websites their power disclosure labels still, or to adjust them. The suppliers in question have done so by now. Suppliers are required to list on power disclosure labels all of the energy sources that are used to generate the power they supply. Each year, ACM verifies the claims that energy suppliers make about their green power. Consumers should have confidence that they are supplied green power if they have chosen such power.

Green power

Over half of all Dutch households consume green power. Suppliers are required to provide information about the energy sources that are used to generate the power they supply. Such information is given through power disclosure labels, which suppliers are required to publish. In that context, the share of green power must be backed up by cancellations of so-called ‘Guarantees of Origin’ of CertiQ, which is an organization that certifies green power.

Dutch power

ACM has also conducted a check among suppliers that claim to supply 100% green power (or to a large extent) generated in the Netherlands. More and more households want this kind of green power, and more and more suppliers say they are able to supply such power. ACM has found that the information of suppliers about the power supplied in 2019 and generated by Dutch wind turbines, solar panels or biomass, is correct in most cases. A few suppliers had to adjust their information about the origin of their green power. These adjustments have already been implemented.

Grey power

Since 2020, suppliers are required to substantiate the sources of grey power too, using certificates. Grey power (sometimes also called brown power) is energy generated using fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. ACM also checks the grey component of the power disclosure label.

ACM’s role

ACM ensures that markets work well, now and in the future. In the energy transition, people and businesses must be able to rely on a well-functioning energy market. That is why ACM wishes to help realize an energy supply that is sustainable, secure, and affordable.