Average energy tariffs for consumers

What does the survey comprise?

Purpose

The monthly publication of the average consumer prices for electricity and gas provides insight into the movements of average prices paid by Dutch households for new contracts. These prices are listed in euros and can be divided into fixed prices per year and prices that are related to the actual energy usage of households. Electricity prices that depend on actual usage are listed as kilowatts per hour. For gas prices, these are listed per cubic meter of gas. This is because they include both variable and fixed tariffs for supply and transmission services as well as the related taxes.

Target population

Prices of natural gas apply to homes connected to the gas grid. Those which are connected to central district heating systems are not included. The figures are confined to dwellings with occupying residents..

For electricity and gas, the following figures are published:

• Transmission tariffs
• Supply tariffs (fixed and variable tariffs)
• Taxes

Statistical unit

Average prices of the different components of the energy bill.

Date/year survey started

The survey results have been published since January 2020. The data are available from 2018 onwards. An article was published in Statistical Trends at the outset of the survey.

Frequency

Monthly

Publication strategy

The figures of the previous month are provisional. These will become definitive with the publication of the next month.

How is the survey conducted?

Survey type

The survey is based on monthly register data of energy suppliers.

Survey method

Monthly register data of nearly all energy suppliers in the Netherlands.

Respondents

Energy suppliers.

Sample size

The sum of total registered energy contracts related to electricity and gas in the Netherlands is used as the source.

Checking and correction methods

Statistics Netherlands checks for completeness and plausibility of the source material. Where this is possible, irregular or incomplete data will be reviewed together with the suppliers. In case of non-response, the data will be imputed or estimated based on all other observed data for that month.

Weighting

To calculate the average energy bill several aggregations are used, which is based on:

• The total number of contracts in the Netherlands by type of contract,
• The suppliers of these contract types,
• The difference in the number of households using a single or dual-tariff contract.

These data are updated annually.

Quality of the results

Accuracy

The accuracy of the average energy prices is preserved by the large number of contracts and prices that are included in the calculation. Additionally, several sources are combined for a total figure. Possible irregularities could arise due to the choices made to compile an average. Also the imputation method could be a source of inaccuracy. By relying on the price changes of the observed contract types to calculate the imputed price level of the non-observed contract types, the published figure does not necessarily reflect the actual average price paid by Dutch households for energy.

Sequential comparability

The data per energy type are comparable over time. Should the situation on the energy market in the Netherlands be subject to major changes in such a way that we are required to monitor different products, then this publication might be adapted or expanded.

With the introduction of the price cap, the average energy tariffs for fixed price contracts and variable price contracts together are still suitable for calculating a price development for the CPI. However, as an average price level they are less reliable. Therefore, from January 2023 on, these energy tariffs are not included in this table.

In a customised table, average energy prices are published. In this publication, only data concerning variable price contracts are taken into account. The prices in this customised table have a different origin than previously published figures on energy prices. Therefore, these figures cannot be directly compared to previously published figures concerning energy tariffs,

Quality strategy

The data are checked to ensure internal consistency and completeness. Verification of data takes place where necessary. CBS conducts a research to improve the statistics on consumer prices of energy, and therefore also the average energy tariffs for consumers. First results will be published mid 2023.