Dutch households to spend less on gas, electricity in 2026

Households will pay slightly less for their energy bills this year. On average, they will spend €1,993 on gas and electricity, €52 less than in 2025, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) calculated.

CBS’s calculations are based on energy prices in January 2026. Households save 2.5 percent compared to last year. The statistics agency says this is due to the estimated lower gas consumption, in particular, but also because the variable supply costs of gas and electricity are lower. The energy tax on gas increased compared to 2025.

Energy bills vary considerably from household ot household. This depends on consumption, which is determined by heating habits, insulation, and the number of residents. Households in a predominantly electrically heated home, for example, spend an average of €1,020 per year. Households of two or more people in a detached house, heated primarily by gas, pay an average of €3,370 annually.

Next year, some households’ energy bills are expected to rise again. The net metering scheme for households with solar panels will be discontinued. This scheme allows them to offset self-generated electricity against their energy consumption. According to the price comparison site Inderpender, households with solar panels will pay between €180 and €470 more annually next year.

In months with abundant sunshine, such as summer, households feed energy back into the grid. Net metering costs energy companies money, which increases overall energy costs. The scheme was originally introduced to stimulate the purchase of solar panels, but the government considered it disadvantageous for households without them. Therefore, it decided to abolish the scheme as of 2027.