Energy prices are falling. At Eneco, the variable rates for November are 6 to 7 percent lower than in October. The company is the first major energy company to cut tariffs after huge price hikes since the summer.

Customers affected by the new tariffs will not be thrilled. The November tariffs apply to customers who last had to deal with new tariffs three months ago. Compared to the price they have been paying since August, they are paying 60 percent more for electricity and 40 percent more for gas.

With the October tariffs, these customers would have become even more expensive.

Budget Energie has also lowered the tariffs for November. At Vattenfall and Essent, the tariffs will be adjusted in January at the earliest.

“Profit less quickly”

Tariffs on the gas and electricity trading market have been falling sharply for weeks. The price of gas has halved since August and is back to where it was last spring. This is partly due to the relatively warm weather and partly because consumers and companies are saving energy.

Eneco previously warned that market movements are less likely to be reflected in customers’ rates from now on. According to the company, this is a result of the excitement last month about late-communicated tariff increases.

The company points out that from now on tariff changes will be communicated 30 days in advance and energy must therefore be purchased earlier. As a result, customers are less likely to benefit from price changes in the trading market, the company said.