Dutch Utilities Overview
Understand the Dutch utilities industry, which service providers to contact to get electrical, gas and water service connected, how the billing works and what to do in a utilities emergency.
ELECTRICITY / GAS
The Dutch energy supply network begins with two transmission system operators (TSO): TenneT for electricity and Gasunie for gas. Both are owned by the Dutch state.
There are 6 electricity and gas distribution system operators (DSO) in the Netherlands: Cogas Infra & Beheer, Enexis, Liander, Rendo, Stedin and Westland Infra. The 3 largest, Enexis, Liander and Stedin, cover 90% of the country. All 6 are unlisted public companies owned by the provinces and municipalities they serve.
Energy suppliers in Netherlands operate in an open market where residents can choose the company they want to supply service. Many Dutch utilities companies offer integrated services, providing both gas and electricity. This option is consistently the most popular and least expensive for households.
There is a major push by the government to make newly constructed homes and residential buildings gas-free in order to reduce harmful greenhouse emissions.
Getting service connected
To establish an account for electricity or gas service, the following need to be provided:
- Proof of identity (usually a valid passport)
- Proof of residency (for those without a Dutch passport)
- Proof of occupancy (rental contract or house deed)
- Proof of address (the BRP extract which is available from your local municipal office)
Billing
Note and check the meter readings when moving into a new home. Bills are based on either the previous year’s consumption for the property or on the estimated average usage for the number of people now living at the address.
As heating is a major cost in the Netherlands, the entire year’s usage is spread out over 12 months to avoid unmanageable bills. Any discrepancies are adjusted at year-end with either a refund or additional bill.
Average costs
Energy costs in Netherlands increased significantly when the war in Ukraine began. To offset some of the additional financial burden price increases have placed on household spending, the government implemented price caps for gas, electricity and district heating.
Monthly home energy bills vary based on the size of the house or apartment, how it is heated, how well it is insulated and how many people are living in it. A rough guideline would be €300-350 per month for a family of 4 which would include electricity and hot water.
Contracts
Utilities contracts typically renew automatically from year-to-year. Customers must be notified of any changes to a contract and have 14 days to end the contract if they do not agree with the changes.
Get more information about EU consumer rights in regards to utilities contracts.
Utility Emergencies
For gas leaks or electricity emergencies in the Netherlands, contact your provider or call: 0800 9009
WATER
The water supply in the Netherlands is managed by 21 regional water boards under the umbrella organization ‘Unie van Waterschappen‘ (Association of Water Boards), based in The Hague. Each is responsible for maintaining the quality and quantity of drinking water, the treatment of waste water and flood control measures for its specific geographic area.
Expats coming from countries like the United States, Canada and Australia should be aware that the drinking water in the Netherlands, as is the case in most of Europe, is not fluoridated.
For billing purposes, a home’s water usage is estimated for the year based on the previous year’s consumption. The estimated annual cost is billed either monthly or quarterly depending on the regional water board.
If a rental unit within a registered property is not equipped with its own water meter, the total cost for the property will be billed to the property owner. They, in turn, will bill the tenant for their estimated portion.
Every property connected to a municipal sewage line (which is nearly all properties in the Netherlands) is assessed an annual sewage tax by the municipality. Property owners usually receive their municipal tax bill in February.
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