Fixed energy contract: price certainty and deals
By Laurens Arends · updated 05-10-2026
How does a fixed energy contract work?
With a fixed energy contract you agree a supply rate per kWh of electricity and per m³ of gas for a certain term. According to ACM ConsuWijzer it is usually one or three years. However, there are also two-year contracts, although these are less common in practice. Since 2026, every supplier must offer a standardised fixed model contract of twelve months.
The supply rate does not change during the agreed term. Future obligations for suppliers are not a licence to raise that rate after all either. The ACM confirmed in August 2026, for example, that suppliers may not adjust fixed gas prices because of ETS2 or the planned blending obligation for green gas. The consumer therefore has a lot of price certainty.
That does not mean that your entire energy bill is fixed. The government determines the energy tax and VAT. The ACM sets the system management rates of the grid operators every year. Your usage can also go up or down. Your monthly instalment therefore remains an advance payment and can be adjusted if your expected annual bill changes.
After the end date, the fixed supply rates lapse. If you do not take out a new contract, you usually continue at variable rates. Your supplier must announce these new rates at least thirty days in advance.
Dynamic, fixed or variable energy contract?
Fixed energy contract
A fixed energy contract protects you against rising supply rates during the term. You do not benefit when market prices fall in the meantime. Leaving earlier can also result in a cancellation fee. This contract type mainly suits you if predictability is important and you do not expect a house move or a big change in your energy use.
Variable energy contract
With a variable energy contract, the supplier can adjust the rates at the moments set out in the conditions. You have less price certainty, but can leave without a cancellation fee. Variable is mainly a flexible interim solution. In the long term it is not automatically cheaper than a fixed energy contract, but it can be.
Dynamic energy contract
With a dynamic energy contract the electricity rate follows the wholesale market per hour or quarter of an hour and the gas rate changes per day. You need a smart meter for this. You can benefit from cheap moments, but you also bear the risk of sudden price rises directly. A energy contract you could choose always means weighing up the expected price, the desired price certainty and how much price risk you can handle.
Pros and cons of a fixed energy contract
With a fixed energy contract you know in advance which supply rates apply during the term. That protects you when market prices rise. The current market shows that such protection can certainly be useful. According to the ACM Energiemonitor of August 2026, the fixed contracts on offer rose in July by 5 to 11 percent compared with the previous month. Those who had already taken out a contract before that rise kept the previously agreed rate.
A fixed contract is not always more expensive than variable. During the price fall in 2025, according to the ACM, the long-term fixed rates on offer fell by 14 percent compared with the peak in February. One-year fixed contracts fell by 8 percent and variable contracts by 7 percent. The figures show that both the moment you sign up and the contract type determine the final price. So compare the total annual amount that applies at the moment you sign up.
For a fixed energy contract, a supplier must buy energy in advance and take into account uncertainty about market prices and your future usage. Scientific research by the University of Copenhagen shows that price and volume risk are a measurable part of the valuation of fixed electricity contracts. The research shows that the supplier takes on economic risks and may need room in the price for this.
A Swedish study among around 54.000 households found, over its research period, an average difference of 0,06 Swedish kronor per kWh in favour of variable electricity contracts. This study by Umeå University only concerned Swedish electricity contracts and is not directly applicable to Dutch households with electricity and gas.
The studies do not show that every fixed energy contract contains a surcharge as standard. They do show that suppliers have to hedge price and volume risk and can build these costs into the fixed rate. A fixed energy contract therefore does not deliver a guaranteed saving: first and foremost you are buying protection against future price rises. If the market price later turns out to be lower, you keep paying the agreed rate.
With a fixed energy contract, a cancellation fee may apply if you leave before the end date. This fee is equal to the supplier's financial loss:
Cancellation fee = remaining expected usage × (contract rate − rate of a new comparable contract with the same supplier)
If the comparable new contract with your supplier is more expensive than your existing contract, the supplier suffers no price loss and you pay no cancellation fee for that part. If energy has since become cheaper, however, the fee can mount up. So, before switching ask for a calculation. That calculation remains valid for two months.
Moving house, emigrating or moving in together does not automatically give you the right to cancel free of charge. If you do not take the contract with you and end it before the end date, the cancellation fee may still apply.
Current deals for a fixed energy contract
| Supplier | Term | Per month | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 ENGIELowest | 3 years fixed | € 188 | € 2.256 | View › |
 Innova Energie | 3 years fixed | € 190 | € 2.280 | View › |
 Energiedirect | 2 years fixed | € 196 | € 2.352 | View › |
 Oxxio | 3 years fixed | € 199 | € 2.388 | View › |
 Budget Energie | 3 years fixed | € 204 | € 2.448 | View › |
The overview shows the current deals for your usage and any feed-in. The calculation includes the supply rates, fixed supply charges, feed-in charges, feed-in fee and cash discount. Compare the total annual amount for the same term. A high welcome discount does not automatically make a fixed energy contract cheaper. Do you also want to look at variable and dynamic options? Then compare all deals with the same usage data.
Common mistakes with a fixed energy contract
The first mistake is thinking that the entire monthly amount is fixed. Only the contractually agreed supply rates are fixed. Your actual usage, taxes, system management charges and instalment amount can change.
A second mistake is only looking at the cash discount or kWh price. Researchers at the University of Groningen concluded in 2026 that loyalty programmes can cause consumers to pay less attention to rates and the origin of energy. So do not just look at the cash discount, but compare the full contract conditions and net annual price.
The third mistake is choosing a long term without looking at your plans. If you are likely to move house, move in together or go completely off gas, ask in advance how the contract can be taken with you or partly terminated. If you have one combined contract for gas and electricity, according to ACM ConsuWijzer you terminate the entire contract when you cancel only gas. The supplier can therefore charge a cancellation fee for both gas and electricity.
Frequently asked questions about a fixed energy contract
A fixed energy contract gives certainty, but only within the agreements in the contract. The following answers make clear what is fixed, when a cancellation fee applies and how to take out a suitable contract.
What is the difference with the other contract types?
With a fixed energy contract the supply rates stay the same during the agreed term, but cancelling early can result in a cancellation fee. A variable contract can change at contractually determined moments, while a dynamic contract follows the wholesale market per hour, quarter of an hour or day. Variable and dynamic contracts have no cancellation fee.
Can I cancel a fixed energy contract before it ends?
Yes, but your supplier can charge a cancellation fee as long as the agreed term has not yet ended. Ask for a calculation before switching and preferably let the new contract start only on or after the end date.
When is a fixed energy contract smart?
A fixed energy contract is especially smart when you want price certainty, will probably see out the contract in full and the total annual amount is also competitive. If you expect to move house soon, go off gas or make your home more sustainable on a large scale, a shorter term or a more flexible contract may suit you better.
How do I take out a fixed energy contract?
First enter your postcode, house number, annual usage and any feed-in. Then compare fixed contracts with the same term on the basis of the total annual amount and check the cancellation fee, cash discount and conditions for solar panels. After you sign up, a cooling-off period of fourteen calendar days applies and the new energy supplier usually arranges the switch.
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