Remaining gas grid users may face four times higher transport costs
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets warns that gas transport costs for remaining users could quadruple by 2050 as the customer base shrinks. High removal costs for idle connections are currently being passed on to households, prompting calls for government intervention to prevent further financial strain.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has warned that households still connected to the gas grid could see their annual transport costs rise from 200 euros to 790 euros by 2050. This surge is expected because the fixed costs of maintaining the network must be divided among a shrinking number of users as more people transition to sustainable energy alternatives. Furthermore, expenses related to decommissioning unused gas connections are currently being passed on to remaining consumers, significantly inflating their bills.
Many residents remain unable to switch due to barriers like restrictive landlords or capacity limitations on the power grid. The ACM notes that it has limited power to cap these rates because network operators are legally entitled to recover their operational costs. To address this financial burden, the regulator suggests that the government could intervene by funding the removal of idle infrastructure through general tax revenues, rather than forcing remaining gas customers to shoulder the entire financial responsibility of the transition.
Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
