Consumers used some 15% less gas in the first two months of this year when compared with 2021, thanks to the warmer winter and energy saving measures, NOS said on Monday.

The broadcaster bases its claim on a ring round of the Netherlands’ bigger energy companies.

Last February, for example, the temperature dropped below zero for long enough to allow staking on natural ice in much of the country.

A spokesman for Essent said that average gas usage was down 16.3% in the first two months of the year. ‘In February 2021 we had two very cold weeks and this year nothing,’ he said. ‘But people are also being more careful about how much gas they are using.’

Delta Energie reported a drop of 16.7% in gas use by private households and small business customers. Even without the impact of the weather there is still a difference, the spokesman said.

‘We think that people are being more careful with energy and have taken steps to reduce use, such as by adding more insulation,’ the spokesman said.

Vattenfall and Greenchoice reported similar findings.

European gas prices have reached record levels in recent months but the government is taking steps to reduce the impact, such as cutting energy taxes. In addition, low income households can claim additional compensation of up to €800.

Dutch households will pay an average of €2,800 to have light and heat their homes in 2022, national statistics office CBS said last month. That means, the average household will pay 86% more for energy this year than in 2021 – based on January’s prices, the CBS said.