Maximum heat tariffs go down slightly in 2021 for most households

The maximum tariffs that heat suppliers are allowed to charge an average household with its own connection decrease in 2021 on average by 0.7%. This is one of the conclusions of the Decision on maximum tariffs for heat suppliers, which the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has published. Each year, the maximum heat tariffs consist of the supply of heat, metering, and rental of the heat exchanger. In addition, there are also maximum tariffs for new connections and disconnections.

The costs for supply and metering of an average heat consumer cannot be higher than the costs of a consumer that heats its home using natural gas. That link with natural gas has been laid down in the Dutch Heat Act. As the net costs for natural-gas consumers go down (primarily because of decreasing supply tariffs for natural gas), the maximum heat tariffs in 2021 also go down. 

The tariffs for connections, disconnections, and the rental of heat exchangers are based on the average actual costs. Specifically with regard to the rental of heat exchangers, the maximum tariffs will be the same for all size classes (load profiles) from 2021. A size class (or load profile) indicates how much hot water can be generated per minute. The differences in the costs between the different classes are so small that the maximum tariffs no longer differ from each other.

Check your heat tariffs 

The maximum tariffs stated in the decision do not include VAT. Consumers with connection capacities of up to 100 kW can go to the website of ACM’s consumer information portal ACM ConsuWijzer and check what maximum supply tariffs including VAT apply to them. ACM does not set any maximum tariffs for individual consumers with connection capacities of more than 100 kW.

Check your heat tariffs on ConsuWijzer.nl (in Dutch)
 
See also
23-12-2020 Decision on tariffs for heat suppliers 2021 (in Dutch)