ACM Energy monitors: Natural-gas price went down further, switching to better contracts continues to pay off 
                  

                
                                  






  







  



  
    
              
        
        
      
      
                        
          

Summary

The decreasing natural-gas price on the wholesale market results in lower prices for contracts for electricity and natural gas.
ACM keeps a close watch on the prices of energy suppliers, and publishes each month an overview of all contracts with significantly higher prices.
In addition, ACM also keeps a close watch on the wholesale markets for natural gas and electricity through its monthly monitors.


  

  

    
      
          

      

  


                






        
          

Over the past month, the price for natural gas on the wholesale market for natural gas has gone down further to 32 euros per MWh. The decreasing natural-gas price has resulted in lower prices for the contracts on offer for electricity and gas. Fixed contracts became up to 3 percent cheaper. The prices of variable contracts went down up to 3.5 percent. That has been revealed by the various energy monitors of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). Next to fixed or variable contracts, households can also opt for dynamic energy contracts. With these contracts, prices for electricity and natural gas directly follow the prices on the wholesale market.


ACM keeps a close watch on the trends and developments on the energy markets, and publishes each month a 
Monitor on wholesale prices of electricity (in Dutch), a 
Monitor on wholesale prices and the security of supply of natural gas (in Dutch), and a 
Monitor on the consumer energy market (in Dutch).


The Monitor on the consumer energy market contains information about all contracts offered by all energy suppliers. The monitor has revealed that, this month too, there are significant price differences between suppliers. Switching to better contracts can pay off, with differences of up to approximately 900 euros per year between the most affordable and most expensive contracts.
Significantly higher prices


ACM conducts oversight over the prices of energy suppliers. In its oversight, ACM looks at, among other aspects, the price differences between suppliers as well as the reasons behind these price differences. ACM’s monitor on the consumer energy market reveals that the prices of the below contracts for households are significantly higher than comparable contracts of other energy suppliers.



Supplier
Contract type
Contract name (in Dutch)


Kikker Energie
Variable – natural gas and electricity
Kikker Energie variabel


Powerpeers
Variable – electricity
Variabel


Energyhouse
Variable – electricity
Variabel


Noord Energie
Fixed 1 year – natural gas
Noord Energie 1 jaar vast


Kikker Energie
Dynamic – natural gas and electricity
Kikker Energie Dynamisch


HalloStroom
Dynamic - electricity
Stroom en Gas Dynamisch





ACM’s Monitor on the consumer energy market also reveals that several suppliers charge significantly higher prices for their model contracts. This is the case with ANWB Energie, Energy Zero, HalloStroom, Zonneplan, Slim met Energie, EasyEnergy, OpenSource Energie, Tibber, Scholt Energy, and Clean Energy. A model contract is a standard contract with a variable price. Every energy supplier is statutorily required to offer such a model contract, even suppliers that wish to offer dynamic contracts only.
Trends and developments of the wholesale market


The Monitor on wholesale prices and the security of supply of natural gas (in Dutch) reveals that the natural-gas price this month went down from 42 euros per MWh at the start of April to 32 euros per MWh by the end of the month. The filling rate of gas storages slightly went up to 26 percent in April. The goal is that, on 1 November 2025, the filling rate is at least 80 percent in order to guarantee the security of supply in the winter. One important factor for filling the gas storages is the price difference between natural gas in the summer and in the winter (this is called the ‘spread’). This spread is now 1.50 euros per MWh, which offers market participants insufficient incentive to fill the storages of their own accord. A spread of 2.20 euros per MWh would be needed for them to do so. ACM also monitors how much liquefied natural gas (LNG) is supplied each month. The supply of LNG in April remained stable.


The 
Monitor on wholesale prices of electricity (in Dutch) shows that the electricity price has gone down over the past month. This is caused by the decreasing natural-gas price and the increasing supply of solar and wind power. In some periods in April, the large supply of green power has resulted in negative (or very negative) prices. Households with dynamic contracts were able to see this directly in their energy bills: they received money when they consumer power during those periods.
See also


Monitor on wholesale prices of electricity (in Dutch)

Monitor on wholesale prices and the security of supply of natural gas (in Dutch)

Monitor on the consumer energy market (in Dutch)


  

  


    
          
                                          
                                  
                        
                                  
                                
                  

                
          
          
          Publication characteristics
          
                                    
                Publication date
                15-05-2025
              
                      
                                    
                Publication type
                  News

              
                      

                      
              Spokesperson
              
                                    Tjitte Mastenbroek

                              
            
          
                                

          
                      

                                    
                Keywords
                  Electricity,
  Gas,
  Tariffs

              
                      
                                    
                Subjects
                  Energy,
  Consumer protection

Dutch Energy Prices Drop as Consumers Benefit from Switching Contracts

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has observed a continued decrease in natural gas prices on the wholesale market, now at 32 euros per MWh. This decline has resulted in lower prices for both fixed and variable contracts for electricity and natural gas, with reductions of up to 3 percent for fixed contracts and 3.5 percent for variable contracts.

ACM closely monitors energy market trends and publishes monthly reports detailing wholesale prices and consumer energy market contracts. The latest consumer energy market monitor indicates significant price differences among energy suppliers, with potential savings of up to 900 euros per year for consumers who switch to more affordable contracts.

In its oversight, ACM identifies suppliers with significantly higher prices compared to their competitors. Notable suppliers with higher model contract prices include Kikker Energie, Powerpeers, and ANWB Energie, among others. Each energy supplier is required to offer a model contract, even if they primarily provide dynamic contracts.

Additionally, ACM's monitor on wholesale prices highlights a decrease in electricity prices, attributed to the falling natural gas prices and an increase in renewable energy supply. During certain periods in April, the abundance of green power led to negative pricing, benefiting households with dynamic contracts who received payments for consuming electricity during these times.



Dutch Energy Prices Drop as Consumers Benefit from Switching Contracts

The Dutch competition authority reports a further decline in natural gas prices, leading to lower electricity and gas contract prices, encouraging consumers to switch to better deals.