The Dutch competition authority (ACM) surveyed energy suppliers and interviewed IT professionals at ten companies to examine cloud-provider switching in a sector heavily reliant on data and digital technology. The study finds that digital autonomy is on many suppliers’ agendas, but most continue to use one or more of the three major hyperscalers: Microsoft, Google and Amazon.

Suppliers’ decisions are generally driven by costs, available functionality and integration with existing IT systems. Companies value the ease of use and broad range of services offered by major providers, while European alternatives are often perceived as less capable in these respects. These findings are consistent with the authority’s broader discussions with businesses and alternative cloud providers.

Some suppliers have switched all or part of their cloud services from a hyperscaler to a European provider. Those interviewed reported being satisfied with their new providers, including in relation to costs, functionality and flexibility. However, several said the switching process itself was difficult.

The European Data Act is intended to remove barriers to switching and support a more competitive, open European data market. It requires cloud providers to facilitate switching and supports interoperability so users can combine services more easily. The Dutch competition authority enforces the Act in the Netherlands and says users can report providers that hinder switching or fail to comply with the rules.

The authority also notes that it published Data Sharing Guidelines in May 2026 and has launched a consultation on Cloud Guidelines clarifying the rules for cloud service providers.