Energy Claim

On September 30, 2025, Vattenfall, Eneco, Essent, Energiedirect, Budget Thuis, Greenchoice, Greenchoice Zakelijk, ENGIE, Oxxio, and Vandebron received a summons from Consumer Justice for unfair trade practices regarding the variable energy contracts of millions of Dutch people. The variable contracts of the energy companies are contrary to the rules that protect consumers from such practices.

The amendment clause in the variable contracts ensures that households and businesses face unilateral, unclear tariff changes, leading to significant uncertainty. Consumers and small entrepreneurs have regularly faced unexpected and substantial increases in their energy costs in recent years, according to the summons. The proceedings state that energy providers were aware that this amendment clause was in violation of applicable laws and regulations.

The summons cites the relevant period from April 1, 2017, to the present and includes all consumers and small businesses that lived in the Netherlands at that time and had entered into a variable energy contract with one of the mentioned defendant companies. The document also defines a proposed group of claimants, including small business consumers who have suffered damage due to the amendment clause in the variable tariff contracts of the energy suppliers.

Vattenfall unsuccessfully appealed against a ruling by the Amsterdam court that the amendment clause is unfair and that the company is guilty of unfair trade practices.