More than 2.6 million Dutch households with variable energy contracts are facing higher utility bills after several suppliers adjusted their tariffs on July 1, 2026, according to an analysis by Gaslicht.
com.
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The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) said the date is a logical moment for consumers to compare their current contracts with fixed-rate alternatives to avoid unexpected financial impacts.
Market data shows recent energy price increases are only now reaching consumers because many suppliers adjust variable rates only a few times per year.
Provider Essent increased its variable electricity and gas rates by 13% and 13.4% respectively on July 1.
The current average gas rate for new variable contracts is around €1.42 per cubic meter, while one-year fixed contracts average approximately €1.36 per cubic meter.
The most competitive fixed offers drop to €1.27 per cubic meter.
A typical household consuming 2,300 kWh of electricity and 1,000 cubic meters of gas pays between €2,200 and €2,300 annually under Essent's revised variable pricing.
Available fixed contracts for identical consumption range between €1,870 and €1,900 per year.
This price discrepancy stems from high welcome bonuses for new customers switching to fixed contracts, which can reach up to €440.
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Existing variable contract holders do not receive these discounts.
Gaslicht.
com noted that consumers with variable energy agreements retain the right to switch to alternative providers at any time without incurring cancellation fees.
Ben Woldring, an official at Gaslicht.
com, said many households do not realize they automatically move to a variable contract after their fixed contract ends.
"If you do nothing after that, you often stay in it for years. That is precisely why the ACM's call to compare is so important," he said.
Woldring indicated that failing to review these terms often locks consumers into unfavorable rates for multiple years despite shifting market options.
"Now that the differences between contracts are large, it pays to compare rates.
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In many cases, switching to a fixed energy contract can immediately yield significant savings," he added.
