Average energy bill slightly lower this year

Mobile phone app showing energy consumption and prices
© ANP / Rob Engelaar
The average household will spend 1,993 euros on energy bills this year, based on energy prices in January 2026. This is a decrease of 52 euros or 2.5 per cent compared to 2025, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

The majority of the reduction in energy bills is due to lower expected consumption, particularly when it comes to natural gas. Lower variable rates for both gas and electricity are also contributing to lower bills. On the other hand, there are price increases for fixed charges and transport (as there were in 2025). Energy tax on gas is also higher than it was last year.

In its calculations, Statistics Netherlands does not take account of any costs that households may pay to supply electricity generated in or around their home back to the national grid. Since the end of 2023, households that supply electricity back to the grid have often been charged by their energy company to do this.

Energy bill for average consumption 1) (in euros)
January 20262)Change in price relative to Jan 20253)Change in consumption relative to Jan 2025
Natural gas
Transport costs (fixed)268210
Delivery costs (fixed)9280
Delivery costs (variable)545-44-18
Energy tax67426-21
Total annual amount for natural gas1 58010-40
Electricity
Transport costs (fixed)477100
Delivery costs (fixed)11160
Delivery costs (variable)262-16-4
Energy tax194-21-3
Total annual amount for electricity1 043-22-7
Energy tax, general
Tax reduction for energy tax-62960
Total energy bill1 993-5-47
1) Figures have been rounded and may not correspond exactly to the totals shown for this reason.
2) Prices for January 2026 calculated using average annual consumption of 928m3 of natural gas and 1,747 kWh of electricity (estimates from PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency).
3) Price change calculated using average annual consumption for 2025 and 2026.

Larger decrease among bigger consumers of energy

Energy bills are determined largely by how much energy is consumed. This varies greatly between households, depending on factors such as how many people live there, how much they heat their home, and how well insulated it is.

Fixed costs also vary. For example, homes that are heated solely by electricity obviously have no fixed costs for natural gas. Homes connected to a district heating system have relatively high fixed costs, but unlike other homes, they do not need to purchase their own heating system. These factors affect their overall costs, but are not reflected in their annual energy bill.

Based on January 2026 price levels, a household made up of several persons in an old, large detached home heated by natural gas pay the most: an average of 3,410 euros per year. Homes that are heated primarily by electricity have the lowest energy bills, averaging 1,020 euros per year.

The average energy bill for all types of homes has fallen since last year. The combination of higher fixed costs and lower variable costs means that households with high consumption will benefit the most in relative terms. For homes heated by natural gas, the group with the lowest consumption will see an average reduction in their energy bills of 1.3 percent, while the group with the highest consumption will see an average reduction of 3.7 percent.

Sources