Minister Van Veldhoven targets energy help at the neediest households
Climate and Green Growth Minister Stientje van Veldhoven says the cabinet is directing help to the households that need it most, through the Noodfonds Energie and insulation subsidies.
Minister Stientje van Veldhoven of Climate and Green Growth says she can understand why households are worried about the rising gas price. "The cabinet is choosing measures to support precisely the households that need the most help," she said.
She was referring to the Noodfonds Energie, the energy emergency fund, and to several insulation subsidies.
Shell also responded. "We recognise that high energy prices can be problematic for vulnerable citizens and businesses, and that governments also face difficult choices," the company said. It added that it already pays heavy taxes worldwide.
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 ending the contract early 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.
- With a variable tariff the supplier may change the price, 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, with electricity changing every quarter-hour, hour or day and gas changing per day, and a standard model contract (modelcontract) is variable or fixed for 1 year, with variable rates changing at most 4 times a year.
Source: ACM ConsuWijzer: vaste en variabele leveringskosten, read 29 October 2026
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Follow the story: Noodfonds Energie
Noodfonds Energie
The Noodfonds Energie is the energy emergency fund, a Dutch government scheme that provides temporary financial support to households and small businesses that cannot pay their energy bills because of high energy prices. The money is distributed through municipalities, which decide who qualifies for help. It is a safety net for energy costs and sits alongside other measures such as energy subsidies and insulation grants.