{"id":599,"date":"2026-10-03T11:37:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T11:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/?post_type=ba_guide&#038;p=599"},"modified":"2026-10-03T11:37:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T11:37:16","slug":"energy-meters-moving-bills-outages-netherlands","status":"publish","type":"ba_guide","link":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/?ba_guide=energy-meters-moving-bills-outages-netherlands","title":{"rendered":"Energy meters, moving, final bills and outages in the Netherlands"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"ba-lead wp-block-paragraph\">Most utility disputes after a move start with one small thing: the opening or closing meter reading. Photograph the meters on the handover date, keep the meter numbers in view where possible, and submit the readings through the supplier&#8217;s requested channel.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moving electricity and gas<\/h2>\n<p>ACM ConsuWijzer advises telling your energy supplier about the move as early as possible and no later than about <strong>2 weeks before<\/strong> the move. You can often continue the current contract at the new address or choose another supplier. If you choose a new supplier, do not forget that the old address still needs to be closed and a fixed contract may create an exit fee.<\/p>\n<p>During an overlap, a supplier may be able to serve both addresses temporarily. Ask rather than assuming this is automatic.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meter readings: the evidence pack<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"ba-checklist\"><li>Photograph electricity, gas and water readings on the key-transfer date.<\/li><li>Include the meter serial number if readable.<\/li><li>Keep the signed handover report\/inventory.<\/li><li>Submit electricity\/gas readings within the supplier&#8217;s window; ConsuWijzer says within 5 working days after a move or switch when readings are needed.<\/li><li>Check the final bill uses the same reading rather than an unexplained estimate.<\/li><\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Annual and final energy bills<\/h2>\n<p>You normally receive an annual bill once a year. After a switch or move, the energy supplier must send the final bill within <strong>6 weeks<\/strong>. Compare consumption, dates, tariffs, advances already paid, network charges and any solar export entries.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smart meter or digital meter?<\/h2>\n<p>A smart meter can send readings automatically to the network operator. The operator passes appropriate readings to the supplier for billing and monthly consumption\/cost information. More detailed day\/hour\/quarter-hour data requires the relevant permission\/use under the current privacy rules.<\/p>\n<p>In 2026, households that still have an old analogue meter can receive a free replacement request. ACM ConsuWijzer says replacement can no longer simply be refused; you can normally choose between a remotely readable smart meter and a digital meter that does not send readings remotely. If remote reading is disabled or you choose the non-remote digital option, you remain responsible for supplying readings when required.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power or gas outage<\/h2>\n<p>If there is a gas smell, loss of gas\/electricity or a meter\/network fault, the Dutch national outage number is <strong>0800-9009<\/strong>, free and available day and night. For a suspected gas leak, avoid flames\/sparks, ventilate where safe, close the main gas valve if you can do so safely and follow emergency instructions. Call 112 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compensation for a long electricity outage<\/h2>\n<p>For a normal small household electricity connection up to 3x25A, ACM ConsuWijzer currently states: no standard compensation below 4 hours; <strong>&euro;35<\/strong> for a 4-8 hour outage; then <strong>&euro;20<\/strong> extra for each further completed 4-hour period. Planned maintenance that was properly announced uses different rules. The network operator normally pays qualifying compensation automatically within 6 months.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common billing mistakes after moving<\/h2>\n<ul><li>Old occupant&#8217;s reading used as your starting point.<\/li><li>Reading estimated because nobody submitted the handover value.<\/li><li>Old supplier continues collecting advances after the contract should have ended.<\/li><li>New and old address periods overlap incorrectly.<\/li><li>Solar import\/export registers are read incorrectly.<\/li><li>Landlord service-cost meter is confused with the direct supplier meter.<\/li><\/ul>\n<p>See also <a href=\"\/guide\/moving-house-netherlands-address-utilities-insurance\/\">moving house within the Netherlands<\/a> and <a href=\"\/guide\/utility-problems-bills-disputes-netherlands\/\">utility bills, payment problems and disputes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Official sources<\/h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/consument.acm.nl\/elektriciteit-en-gas\/overstappen-vergelijken-en-verhuizen\/energiecontract-bij-verhuizen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACM ConsuWijzer: energy contract when moving<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/consument.acm.nl\/elektriciteit-en-gas\/meters-meterstanden-verbruik\/meterstanden-energierekening\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACM ConsuWijzer: meter readings<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/consument.acm.nl\/elektriciteit-en-gas\/meters-meterstanden-verbruik\/de-slimme-meter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACM ConsuWijzer: smart meter<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/consument.acm.nl\/elektriciteit-en-gas\/ik-heb-een-probleem\/ruik-gas-in-huis-of-heb-andere-storing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACM ConsuWijzer: gas smell\/outage<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/consument.acm.nl\/elektriciteit-en-gas\/ik-heb-een-probleem\/stroomstoring-vergoeding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACM ConsuWijzer: outage compensation<\/a><\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A moving-day and billing guide for electricity\/gas meter readings, smart meters, final bills, gas smells and outage compensation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","ba_country":[2],"ba_topic":[501,503,504,516,505,513],"ba_audience":[255,284,499,261,17,308,517],"ba_section":[168,20,19],"ba_stage":[28,30,27,26],"ba_location":[],"class_list":["post-599","ba_guide","type-ba_guide","status-publish","hentry","ba_country-netherlands","ba_topic-electricity-and-gas","ba_topic-energy-bills","ba_topic-energy-meters","ba_topic-power-outages","ba_topic-smart-meter","ba_topic-utility-moving","ba_audience-employees","ba_audience-families","ba_audience-homeowners","ba_audience-newcomers","ba_audience-residents","ba_audience-students","ba_audience-tenants","ba_section-legal-rights","ba_section-living","ba_section-moving","ba_stage-getting-established","ba_stage-living-stage","ba_stage-moving-arriving","ba_stage-preparing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/ba_guide\/599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/ba_guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/ba_guide"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/ba_guide\/599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":600,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/ba_guide\/599\/revisions\/600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ba_country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fba_country&post=599"},{"taxonomy":"ba_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fba_topic&post=599"},{"taxonomy":"ba_audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fba_audience&post=599"},{"taxonomy":"ba_section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fba_section&post=599"},{"taxonomy":"ba_stage","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fba_stage&post=599"},{"taxonomy":"ba_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borderlessadvice.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fba_location&post=599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}