ACM’s Monitor on the consumer energy market: the natural-gas price is low, energy tariffs went down significantly in 2025

Energy prices have dropped significantly over the course of 2025. That is one of the conclusions of the Monitor on the consumer energy market of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). At the moment, the tariffs of contracts on offer are significantly lower than at the beginning of the year. Compared with the peak in February, tariffs are now 14 percent lower for long-term fixed contracts, 8 percent lower for one-year contracts, and 7 percent lower for variable contracts. For an average household, this means a cost reduction of approximately 130 euros per year. Dynamic contracts, too, have been relatively low-priced this year, since price drops on the wholesale market are passed on even sooner with dynamic contracts than with fixed and variable contracts.

The price drop follows wholesale-market trends. The natural-gas price dropped further in November (from 32 euros to 29 euros per megawatt hour), and is currently at its lowest level in a long time. The stable and ample supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as the mild weather conditions have a downward effect on prices. For electricity, a similar picture is observed: the average day-ahead price did go up slightly to 94 euros per megawatt hour, but is still 17 percent lower than in the same month last year.

Changes in 2026

From 1 January 2026, the costs for households will change. System operation costs go up, on average, 3.4 percent (approximately 25 euros per year), while energy taxes on natural gas go up, and those on electricity go down. On balance, the total tax burden for an average household will remain more or less the same, although larger natural-gas users will pay slightly more, and households with high electricity consumptions will pay slightly less.

Slightly more switchers

In addition, households have switched suppliers more often over the past twelve months. At 15.1 percent, the switching rate is slightly higher than in the previous year. The number of households with dynamic contracts went up 36 percent to over half a million. Seven percent of Dutch households now have a dynamic contract, while the number with a fixed contract remained constant at approximately 53 percent, and the numner of households with a variable contract dropped to 40 percent.

Significantly higher rates

ACM keeps a close watch on the prices of energy suppliers. In that context, ACM looks at, among other aspects, the price differences between suppliers as well as at the reasons behind those price differences. ACM’s Monitor on the consumer energy market reveals that the prices of the below contracts for households this month are significantly higher than comparable contracts from other suppliers.

ACM’s Monitor on the consumer energy market also reveals that several suppliers charge significantly higher prices for their model contracts. This is the case with ANWB Energie, EnergyZero, Hallostroom, Slim met Energie, Easyenergy, Innova, Tibber, and Clean Energy. A model contract is a standard contract with a variable price that can typically be adjusted on January 1 and July 1. Every energy supplier is statutorily required to offer such a model contract, even suppliers that wish to offer dynamic contracts only. The fact that prices of these model contracts are significantly higher says nothing about the prices of other contracts offered by these suppliers.