For electricity and gas, compare a contract as a whole: unit prices, fixed supplier charges, contract type, early-exit rules, solar terms and the realistic annual cost for your household. The cheapest-looking advertisement is not necessarily the cheapest contract.
Three common contract types
| Type | How the price behaves | Typical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | Supply tariff fixed for an agreed period | Price certainty; leaving early can trigger an exit fee |
| Variable | Supplier can change the tariff under the contract/rules | More flexibility; less price certainty; no early-exit fee for the variable tariff |
| Dynamic | Electricity price can change by quarter-hour/hour/day depending on the contract; gas normally daily | Can reward flexible use but exposes you to market volatility; requires a suitable smart meter |
What to compare
- Electricity price per kWh and gas price per m3.
- Fixed supplier charges per month/year.
- Expected total annual bill for your own consumption.
- Contract start/end date and notice period.
- Early-termination fee for a fixed contract.
- Signup bonus/cashback conditions and when it is paid.
- Solar export compensation and any return/export charges.
- Whether the offer assumes direct debit or another payment method.
- Customer-service and complaint route.
14-day cooling-off period
ACM ConsuWijzer states that an energy contract concluded at a distance or off-premises comes with a 14-day cooling-off period. You can cancel within that period without giving a reason and without an early-termination fee. If the supplier failed to tell you about the cooling-off right, the period can be extended under consumer law.
Leaving a fixed contract early
A fixed contract can carry an opzegvergoeding if you leave before the agreed end date. The amount is not simply a standard fine: the current calculation looks at the remaining expected consumption and the difference between your contract tariff and the supplier’s reference price for a comparable replacement contract. Ask for the calculation before switching if the fee could erase your savings.
Variable and dynamic supply contracts do not carry this fixed-contract early-exit fee, although normal notice/administrative rules still apply.
2026 consumer changes under the new energy framework
The Dutch Energiewet entered into force on 1 January 2026. Government guidance highlights clearer energy bills and stronger consumer protections. One practical newcomer rule is that a security deposit requested for a new household energy contract must be reasonable and, from 2026, may not exceed one third of the estimated annual bill.
Do not confuse the monthly advance with the tariff
The termijnbedrag is an advance against the annual bill. A supplier estimates it from expected usage and prices. Lowering the advance can improve monthly cash flow, but it does not reduce the energy actually consumed. If the advance becomes unrealistically low, the shortfall appears on the annual bill.
If you have solar panels
Compare export terms separately. The current net-metering (salderen) system ends on 1 January 2027. A contract signed in late 2026 can therefore span two very different rule sets. Check the 2027 export compensation, return charges and fixed costs rather than assuming today’s annual netting continues for the full contract period.
Practical saving method
- Use recent actual annual consumption if you have it.
- Model the full year including fixed supplier charges.
- Add realistic solar import/export behaviour if relevant.
- Subtract bonuses only if you will meet the conditions.
- Check the exit fee on your current fixed contract.
- Choose fixed/variable/dynamic based on risk tolerance and ability to shift consumption, not marketing labels.