The tax on gas is going up
The tax on gas is rising from € 0.5927 to € 0.7054 per cubic metre next year, including value added tax (btw). This means that the gas price, no matter who your provider, will be over 11 cents a cubic metre more expensive, adding about €11 a month to the average bill.

The outgoing government is putting up the tax on gas in an effort to encourage more people to stop using the fossil fuel for cooking and heating.

The tax on electricity is going down
On the other side of the equation, the government is cutting taxes on electricity from €0.15245 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to € 0.13164 per kWh. The different of approximately 21 cents per kWh will cut €4 a month of the average bill.

The tax discount will go up
The heffingskorting is a sort of discount on energy taxes and that will go up next year from € 596.86 to € 631.39. That means €3 a month will come off your total energy bill.

Transport costs are going up
The companies which run the national grids, which bring gas and electricity into your homes, are putting up their fees next year to help pay for major investments in maintenance and capacity. In particular, the switch from gas to electricity needs serious improvements in the grid.

The Dutch consumer authority ACM estimates this means the average household will pay some €7 a month more in delivery charges, but this will depend on your grid company.

The price ceiling will go altogether
For the past two years there has been a price ceiling on gas and electricity prices to protect households from the wild swings on the international energy markets. The price ceiling will disappear next year.

In addition, the extra help of up to €1,300 for low income families will also go in 2024, although people will be able to appeal to an emergency fund Noodfonds Energie for help.

“The removal of the energy price cap in January 2024 marks a significant challenge for Dutch households, with rising gas prices driven by market instability and increased taxes,” said Koen Kuijpers from energievergelijk.nl. This highlights the urgency for consumers to reassess their energy contracts”. 

Fixed versus variable contracts
Does all this mean it makes sense to opt for a fixed contract, rather that one in which the price varies depending on the markets? Big energy firms have begun warning their customers with variable contracts about next year’s gas and electricity fees so this might be the right time to go for a fixed rate.

“If knowing how much you will pay every month is important to you, opt for a fixed contract which runs for six months or a year – and gives you security about how much you will pay,” says Kuijpers. “A variable contract is a good option if you are more concerned about having a cheap deal.”

You can find out more about the different options available via energy comparison website energievergelijk.nl. They also have an English language tool.

In short
The changes add up to a monthly increase of €11 per family – if they use around 2,479 kWh of electricity and 1,169 cubic metres of gas. If it is a cold winter and you have gas heating, you can expect a bigger rise than that. Price movements on the international energy markets will also have an impact.

This, of course, just the theory. The Netherlands had an election in November and several of the parties which may end up in government have called for cuts in the tax on energy. It remains to be seen when, and if, that actually happens. Keep an eye on a comparison website such as energievergelijk.nl to keep up with developments.