NMa releases report on consumer energy market for second half of 2011

The bi-annual report on the consumer energy market for the second half of 2011 provides an up-to-date overview of the most important trends. For example, consumers are able to save up to EUR 52 per year with 3-year contracts, and up to EUR 107 for 1-year gas contracts. Consumers that take out combined contracts for electricity and natural gas (called dual-fuel contracts) are able to save the most. When taking out a permanent dual-fuel contract, consumers can save up to EUR 464 per year. When consumers switch, it acts as an incentive for energy suppliers to offer competitive rates, and to compete with one another. Suppliers not only compete on price, but also on quality and all kinds of innovations.

Consumers will switch if their expected savings are at least EUR 190 per year. Many consumers feel such savings are not feasible. In reality though, price differences are considerable, which means that the odds are that switching will indeed result in the desired savings amount being realized. However, a substantial share of consumers stays with their current supplier out of satisfaction with them.