Troubled by rising energy costs?

Energy costs expected to rise by 20%

The energy bill generally rises every year because energy tax goes up, but this year the increase is extreme, because it is not only the tax that rises. In 2022, households will have to set aside 8 to 10 per cent of their disposable income for energy, electricity and gas together, which means an average household pays about 400 euros more.

What makes up the bill: all three parts more expensive

The price of energy has three parts, and all three are expected to rise sharply in the coming year.

Why energy prices are rising

The market for energy and gas is a complicated one, shaped by many outside factors: supply and demand, imports from abroad and the weather. The pandemic played an important part in the rise as well.

We are facing a shortage of gas, because too little is available to import and because the Netherlands has stopped extracting it in Groningen. The less gas there is, the higher the price, and a cold autumn or winter can push it higher still. That is what drives up the supply part of the bill.

Energy tax rises by 3 cents per cubic metre in the coming year, which means an average household pays 3 euros more in energy tax each month.

On top of that, grid operators are struggling to carry the demand for electricity on the network as it stands, so they have to invest in renewing it. Part of that cost is passed on to the customer, which is why the network costs rise as well.

Rising energy costs, but not with solar panels

To feel as little of the rise as possible, solar panels are worth considering: you generate your own energy and depend less on what a supplier charges. Panels can cover your whole annual consumption, or you can choose to cover part of it, which already saves a good deal on your monthly bill.

With prices as they are, moving to solar panels has never paid off as well as it does now. The rise also means your panels pay for themselves faster.

Rising energy costs are a good reason to find out about solar panels. They are good for your wallet and good for the environment. Curious about the cost and the yield? Then read our blog "The cost and yield of solar panels".