The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has announced that households and businesses connected to the distribution networks for natural gas and electricity will see a 3.38% increase in transport costs starting in 2026. This translates to an average additional cost of approximately 25 euros per year for households.

ACM sets the tariffs for system operators annually, ensuring that they earn sufficient revenue for maintenance and investments while keeping costs fair for users. The upcoming tariff proposals will be published in October, with definitive maximum tariffs released in November.

While households will face increased costs, large businesses connected to the high-voltage grid operated by TenneT are expected to see a decrease in tariffs of about 10% to 12%. This decrease is attributed to increased grid usage, which allows for a more favorable distribution of allowed revenues.

ACM has indicated that the overall costs for grid users are projected to rise significantly over the next 25 years, with transport costs for electricity potentially reaching between 600 to 800 euros per year for an average household by 2050. This increase is partly due to the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable electricity sources, necessitating substantial investments in grid upgrades.

To address these challenges, ACM is developing a new regulatory method for setting tariffs that will better accommodate the evolving energy market and the requirements of the energy transition. A draft decision for this new method is expected to be published soon, with final decisions to be made in 2026.