Many households have unnecessarily heavy power connections, costing thousands of euros per year
Hundreds of thousands of Dutch households and businesses are paying for unnecessarily heavy electricity connections, costing them thousands of euros annually. The Authority for Consumers and Markets recommends that users verify their connection types and consider downsizing if their usage habits do not require high capacity.
According to the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), hundreds of thousands of households and small businesses in the Netherlands utilize power connections that are unnecessarily heavy for their actual consumption levels. This research indicates that over 300,000 users are paying for capacities that exceed their needs, resulting in potential annual costs reaching thousands of euros. Consumers are advised to check their annual energy statements to verify their current connection type.
The regulator notes that heavy connections are generally only required for those simultaneously operating high-energy appliances such as saunas, heated pools, or ponds. To reduce costs, users are encouraged to spread their energy usage or charge electric vehicles more slowly to avoid peak consumption. While downsizing a connection involves a one-time fee of approximately 300 euros, the ACM warns that the current congestion on the power grid means it may be difficult or impossible to upgrade the connection again in the future if needs change.
Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
