Heat network bills set to rise about 25% from 1 January 2027 as gas price climbs

The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) expects an average household on a heat network that uses 25 GJ a year to pay about 25% more for heat next year. That is based on the first of its three reference dates, 23 September 2026. The wholesale gas price rose further over the past month to €86/MWh, the highest since December 2022, the regulator says in its latest energy monitor (Energiemonitor).

Why it matters

• About 700,000 households on a heat network will face the high prices from 1 January 2027, because maximum heat tariffs are tied to the gas price.
• About 3.7 million households with a dynamic or variable gas and electricity contract already see higher prices in their monthly costs.
• Households with a fixed contract will see them when the contract ends.

The rise is smaller for lower use and larger for higher use. It will exceed 25% if the gas price rises further. The other two reference dates are 23 October and 23 November 2026.

Households on a heat network cannot choose their supplier. Each December the ACM therefore sets maximum tariffs that suppliers may not exceed. The ACM calls on suppliers to raise tariffs only if their costs make it necessary. It says suppliers that burn gas will probably have to raise tariffs, while those that do not can likely keep them lower. The ACM will again investigate excess returns at all heat suppliers next year.

Offered electricity tariffs rose fastest over the past month

Approx. % rise over the past month

Offered electricity tariffs rose fastest over the past month (approx. % rise over the past month). Highest: Electricity, highest by term (8%), 8; lowest: Variable gas (about 1.5%), 1.5; 4 items. Source: ACM.

View data

Data: Offered electricity tariffs rose fastest over the past month

Item	Approx. % rise over the past month
Variable gas (about 1.5%)	1.5
Fixed gas (almost 5%)	5
Electricity, lowest by term (5%)	5
Electricity, highest by term (8%)	8

Total gas use since 1 July is about 5% lower than a year earlier, while the wholesale gas price is more than twice as high. The number of households with a fixed contract keeps falling, while variable and dynamic contracts grow.

What this means for you

• A fixed tariff (vast tarief) keeps the price per kWh or m3 the same for a set period, for example 1 or 3 years, and cancelling before the end date can cost a cancellation fee (opzegvergoeding).
• When a fixed contract ends, it becomes a variable tariff (variabel tarief), and the supplier must announce the new rates at least 30 days ahead.
• A variable tariff can be changed by the supplier, usually at set moments such as every 3 months, with at least 1 month's notice, and cancelling costs no fee.
• A dynamic tariff (dynamisch tarief) follows wholesale market prices, and a model contract (modelcontract) is a standard variable or 1-year fixed contract that may still carry a charge for feeding solar power back (terugleverkosten).

Source: ACM ConsuWijzer: vaste en variabele leveringskosten, read 18 October 2026