Easy brand Dutch energy market with ‘low cost’ electricity

Easyenergy, the latest in the Easy brand of cost-cutting companies, launched on the Dutch market on Tuesday, supplying electricity and gas at what it claims is cost price for a €5 monthly fixed charge.

‘We’re going to fight with the big boys in this sector just as we did in other sectors,’ Easyjet founder and owner of the Easy brand name Stelios Haji-Ioannou said in a press release.

‘The current energy market is totally opaque,’ , Easyenergy CEO and co-founder Maarten Roelfs said. ‘Suppliers lock in customers with welcome rates and bonuses which make energy seem cheap. But after the first year customers pay hundreds of euros more unless they keep switching suppliers,’ he said.

Easyenergy plans to make use of the smart meter which is already installed in three million Dutch households. ‘This makes it possible for us to monitor customers’ consumption on an hourly basis’ and charge them accordingly, Roelfs said.

Research published by energy comparison website Pricewise in February showed tax is currently the biggest component of domestic energy bills in the Netherlands.

Pricewise says just 35% of domestic energy bills is due to the actual cost of gas and electricity. Some 45% of the average bill is tax and 20% goes to energy transport companies.

This article has been amended to reflect that fact that Easyjet has no connection to Easyenergy

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