The Dutch competition authority, ACM, has released its Monitor on the consumer energy market, revealing a significant drop in energy prices throughout 2025. This decline translates to an average cost reduction of approximately 130 euros per year for households.

As of now, energy tariffs are considerably lower than at the beginning of the year. Compared to the peak prices in February, long-term fixed contracts have decreased by 14%, one-year contracts by 8%, and variable contracts by 7%. Dynamic contracts have also remained competitively priced, benefiting from quicker adjustments to wholesale market price drops.

The price reductions are attributed to trends in the wholesale market, with natural gas prices falling to their lowest levels in a long time. The stable supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and mild weather conditions have contributed to this downward trend. Although the average day-ahead price for electricity has seen a slight increase, it remains 17% lower than the same month last year.

Looking ahead to 2026, households will experience changes in costs, with system operation costs expected to rise by an average of 3.4%. However, the overall tax burden for households is projected to remain stable, with some variations based on energy consumption levels.

Additionally, the report indicates a slight increase in the number of households switching energy suppliers, with a switching rate of 15.1%. The number of households opting for dynamic contracts has surged by 36%, while the proportion of fixed and variable contracts has remained relatively stable.

ACM continues to monitor energy supplier prices closely, noting that some suppliers charge significantly higher prices for their model contracts compared to others. This observation highlights the importance of consumer awareness regarding pricing differences among energy suppliers.