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5 tips for choosing an energy supplier in the Netherlands 

Are you looking for a new energy supplier or have you just moved to the Netherlands and will this be the first Dutch energy supplier you will choose? There is a lot to look out for when comparing the cheapest energy suppliers, called goedkoopste energieleveranciers in Dutch. For example, the type of energy contract, any cancellation fee, and the contract duration are factors you need to take into account when choosing an energy supplier in the Netherlands. Below we will give you more information regarding this topic.

Duration

Think about how long you want the contract to last. You can conclude two types of contracts:

  • Indefinite contract. You do not agree on how long you will stay with your energy supplier.
  • Fixed term contract. You do agree on how long you will stay with your energy supplier, for example one year. Do you want to cancel the contract before the agreed date? To be able to do this, you will probably have to pay a cancellation fee.

Comparison

A comparison site, or price comparison tool like Easyswitch.nl, is a handy website to quickly visualize a comparison between the expected annual costs of energy at different suppliers. You first have to enter your postal code and your energy consumption. You can then also indicate other wishes, for example green energy use. Can you fill in a great deal about your personal situation? Then the comparison site can search specifically for you. The site will subsequently show the offers that are most suitable to your situation.

Green

With many energy suppliers in the Netherlands you can choose from two types of electricity: grey electricity and green electricity. The Dutch Electricity Act determines which forms of energy generation are green or grey. The difference lies in the source from which the electricity is generated. For example, natural gas is grey and wind is green. When choosing an energy supplier, you are able to opt for either green energy or grey energy. Green energy is usually a bit more expensive, but it is of course environmentally friendly.

Conditions

All energy companies have general and special conditions, such as promotional conditions. It may happen that the conditions at one energy supplier are better than at another. Therefore, please read the conditions when choosing an energy supplier in the Netherlands. There are several things you should focus on when doing this, including the cancellation fees, potential fines, and what will happen at the end of the contract duration.

Reliability

Energy suppliers must provide clear information about who they are and what they offer. With that information you can choose which supplier suits you best. In the Netherlands, energy suppliers require a license from ACM. These are supplied when the company meets certain rules. By the way, an energy supplier may also be licensed under a different name or work with an intermediary. In addition, most energy suppliers are members of the Consumer and Supplier Code of Conduct of the sector organization Energie Nederland. These companies are generally considered very reliable.