Two of the four coalition parties say that consumers should not be faced with hefty bills for the transition to a gas-free economy.

The CDA and ChristenUnie say people are already being faced with large rises in their energy bills and there are fears that this might put people off working for a better climate, broadcaster NOS reported on Wednesday.

‘It is not so easy to say, “well, let us make people pay more for gas to get them behind the task of boosting sustainability”,’ CDA leader Sybrand Buma told the broadcaster. Gert-Jan Segers, who leads ChristenUnie, also believes consumers should be protected against high price rises, NOS said.

Comparison websites suggest energy bills are going up by an average of between €200 and €312 next year but junior economic affairs minister Mona de Keijzer has criticised their calculations, saying they are based on usage figures which are too high.

DutchNews.nl has spoke to several people, all of whom report rises in the region of €30 a month.

All the 2019 prices will be published in January, when a more accurate calculation of the impact can be made.

The price of gas and electricity has been pushed up by higher levies on CO2 emissions and the accelerated scaling back of gas extraction in Groningen, as well as a €50 rise in the amount households contribute towards sustainable energy subsidies (ODE).