If your energy contract is about to expire, it makes sense to check out your options, given the big differences between the various providers operating in the Netherlands at the moment.

According to comparison website Independer, there are major differences between energy companies, particularly when it comes to client reviews. Contracts differ in both price and length, and you can opt for green or not-so-green energy. And, of course, customer service is also important.

Independer has drawn up a top-12 list based on the thousands of reviews made via its website, to give you a start when it comes to “energieleveranciers vergelijken,” as you would say in Dutch.

1. Pure Energie: 8
2. United Consumers: 7.9
3. Vrijopnaam: 7.9
4. Engie: 7.8
5. Greenchoice: 7.7
6. Vandebron: 7.6
7. om | nieuwe energie: 7.5
8. Coolblue Energie: 7.4
9. Budget Energie: 7.1
10. Oxxio: 7
11. Eneco: 7
12. Essent: 6.9

As you can see from the ranking, it is pretty tight at the top, even though Pure Energie comes off best, with United Consumers and Vrijopnaam snapping at its heels.

So how do you begin to decide which is the best provider for you? It all boils down to five key questions.

1 What are the terms and conditions?
A contract’s terms and conditions are crucial. Check how much notice you have to give if you are not renewing your contract, and any penalty you may incur if you cancel before the end of the contract period, to make sure you don’t get saddled with unexpected costs.

2 What do other customers say?
Read the reviews. Suppliers all claim to offer excellent service, but what do their customers say? Reviews give you a more accurate view of what you can expect.

3 Do you go for a fixed, variable, or dynamic tariff?
Suppliers offer three different types of tariff.

• Fixed tariff: You know exactly what you will pay every month, no matter what happens in the market.
• Variable tariff: Tariffs can fluctuate – meaning they can go up as well as down. They are usually fixed for between one and six months.
• Dynamic tariff: This type of contract follows real-time market prices and can be both advantageous and risky, depending on how you act.

4 How long should a contract be?
You can take out a contract for different lengths of time, so compare prices and options to see what works best for you. If you are planning to move, for example, you may be better off with a short contract.

5 Is the energy green?
If you care about sustainability, opt for a supplier who provides energy from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. Not all do.

Anything else?
What is best and cheapest for your friends might not be best for you, so don’t blindly follow the rankings. The bottom line, of course, is the price. Think about how much you have to spend on energy and check if you can find a contract that meets your needs within your price range.

“You can, for example, take out a new contract before your current one has expired through what we call the ‘switch window’,” says Independer’s energy expert Joris Kerkhof. “Start looking some three months before your current contract expires to make sure you get the best possible price.”

Also read: Is now the right time to switch energy supplier? – DutchNews.nl