Essent fixed contract: 1 and 3 year fixed rates
By Laurens Arends · updated 05-10-2026
Essent 3 jaar vast rate: what is really fixed?
With the Essent 3-year fixed rate, you fix the supply rates for electricity and gas for three years. If you choose 1 year fixed, this applies for one year. The fixed supply charges and the rates for normal and off-peak hours are stated in your personal offer. Not your entire energy bill stays the same. Your consumption can change and the government and ACM can adjust the energy tax and grid operator charges.
According to the current product terms and conditions of Essent (2026), the rate can also change if you move to a region where a different rate applies or if your connection changes. So see an Essent fixed contract as certainty about the agreed supply prices, not as the same monthly amount for three years.
Current Essent rates for 1 and 3 years fixed
| Contract | Electricity | Gas | Discount | Per month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Essent1 year fixed | € 0,331/kWh | € 1,870/m³ | € 400 discount | € 234 | View › |
| Essent3 years fixed | € 0,301/kWh | € 1,558/m³ | € 250 discount | € 218 | View › |
Do not compare only the rate per kWh and m³. Also look at the fixed supply charges, the personal annual amount, any discount and the conditions for solar panels. According to Essent (2026), the separate electricity and gas prices alone do not give a complete picture of the costs.
Moreover, the contract term does not predict which option is the cheapest. When Essent reintroduced the three-year contract on 1 June 2023, the bare rates for 1 and 3 years were the same. In the independent rate overviews of Independer (September 2026) and Overstappen.nl (6 September 2026), the bare Essent 3-year fixed rate was actually below the one-year rate.
Sometimes the 1-year contract is cheaper, sometimes the 3-year contract is cheaper. Discounts also play a role in this. We already take any deals into account and provide the current rates.
The return of fixed Essent rates
During the energy crisis of 2022, new fixed contracts disappeared almost completely from the market. Essent first brought back the annual contract on 15 March 2023. The Essent 3-year fixed rate followed on 1 June 2023. According to Independer (2023), that return was linked to a changed cancellation fee, which better covered the purchasing risk for suppliers. These old rates say little about today's offering, but the history does show that availability and price differences can change quickly.
Essent 1 year or 3 years fixed: what suits you?
| Choice | 1 year fixed | 3 years fixed |
|---|---|---|
| Price certainty | One year | Three years |
| New moment of choice | Compare again after just one year | Only needed after three years |
| With falling rates | You can choose a new contract sooner | You remain bound to the agreed rate for longer or have to pay a cancellation fee |
| With rising rates | Your certainty ends sooner | You are protected against higher supply rates for longer |
| Stopping early | Possibly with a cancellation fee | Possibly with a cancellation fee (can weigh more heavily due to the longer remaining term) |
An Essent fixed contract for one year gives a new decision moment sooner. That is attractive if you want to compare annually. Essent 3 years fixed suits you better if you want price certainty for a long time and accept that a later price advantage may pass you by. Nobody can reliably predict the electricity and gas price for three years. So choose based on your risk preference and the current total annual amount, not on a firm market expectation.
What does a 3-year contract at Essent cost?
The exact costs depend on your address, electricity and gas consumption, meter, solar panels, feed-in and the deal at that moment. So use the annual amount from the personal offer. Check whether the discount and expected feed-in charges have already been included in it.
A high discount does not automatically make an Essent 3-year fixed rate cheaper or more interesting. Are you comparing the entire term? Then spread a one-off benefit or a one-off discount over the three contract years. Check in the promotion terms whether the amount applies once or every year and when Essent pays it out.
Good to know: existing customers can also enjoy benefits via Thuisvoordeel. Only include such extras for the value they actually have for you. You can find the current explanation of this Thuisvoordeel programme on the main page with all information about Essent.
Essent 3 jaar vast with solar panels
If you have solar panels, also compare the feed-in charges and feed-in fee. Until 1 January 2027, according to its product terms and conditions (2026), Essent bases the feed-in charges on the total electricity that your meter registers as feed-in. So it is not only about the surplus after net metering.
An Essent 3-year fixed contract that starts in 2026 continues after the end of the net metering scheme. It is good to know how Essent will deal with this from 1 January 2027. From 1 January 2027, Essent charges the feed-in charges per kWh fed back and you receive a fee for every kWh fed back.
With a fixed contract, the agreed feed-in charges in principle remain the same during the term. According to the same terms and conditions, Essent may adjust them at most once per calendar year if changed legislation or government measures make this necessary.
Cancelling an Essent fixed contract early
You can end a fixed contract before the end date, but Essent may then charge a cancellation fee. Since 1 June 2023, this is no longer a fixed penalty. According to ACM ConsuWijzer (2026), the calculation is as follows:
R emaining expected consumption × (your contract rate − the rate of a comparable new Essent contract)
Essent calculates electricity and gas separately. If the comparable current rate is equal or higher, the outcome for that part is zero. The Essent product terms (2026) stipulate that a calculation provided remains valid for two months. So request an up-to-date indication before switching. According to ACM ConsuWijzer (2026), you have a fourteen-day cooling-off period for an energy contract concluded online or by phone.
Switching to Essent
First look at the end date of your current energy contract. Is your fixed contract still running? Then ask your supplier for an indication of the possible cancellation fee. That way you avoid unexpected costs.
Calculate the offer with your own electricity consumption, gas consumption and any feed-in. Compare the full annual amount and check the supply rates, fixed costs, contract duration, feed-in charges and discount.
After your application, you receive the rates, terms, start date and any discount from Essent. In a normal switch Essent arranges the termination of your old contract.
Our verdict on Essent 3 jaar vast
With the Essent 3 jaar vast rate you choose certainty. There is no certainty whatsoever that energy will become more expensive or cheaper. Above all, you buy three years of peace of mind and certainty about the supply prices. If you have a strict budget and unexpected energy price rises could cause problems, certainty can certainly be useful.
If you want to compare again sooner and be able to benefit from falling energy prices, a 1-year fixed contract may be a better choice. So look first and foremost at the current prices, the discounts (spread them over three years if you like) and your own need for certainty.
Frequently asked questions about an Essent fixed contract
What does Essent 3 jaar vast involve?
Your supply rates for electricity and gas are fixed for three years. Taxes, grid operator charges and your consumption can still change. As a result, your instalment amount does not necessarily stay the same for three years.
Which is better: Essent 1 year or 3 years fixed?
One year suits you better if you want to compare again sooner. Essent 3 jaar vast suits you better if you want longer price certainty. Always compare the current total annual amounts, because the cheapest term can vary.
Can I cancel Essent 3 jaar vast early?
Yes, but Essent can charge a cancellation fee if the company suffers an economic loss because you leave. Ask in advance for a calculation based on the remaining consumption and the current comparable rate.
Is Essent 3 jaar vast a good choice with solar panels?
That depends on your consumption from the grid, total feed-in, feed-in charges and feed-in fee. Also pay close attention to the terms from 1 January 2027.
What happens when the fixed Essent contract ends?
Before the end date, Essent lets you know which follow-up offer applies. You can accept it or switch. So check the total annual amount and the terms again before the end date. It may be a good idea to switch again to another energy supplier, especially if an attractive energy deal is available there.
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