Dynamic energy prices will soon change every 15 minutes
From October, energy rates will be set on an hourly basis. This could be beneficial, but energy suppliers will still charge hourly rates.
Published on July 21, 2025
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Despite the upcoming legislative change, most energy suppliers have decided to stick with hourly rates. Companies such as ANWB Energie, Zonneplan, Frank Energie, Vandebron, and Budget Thuis have indicated that they will not be introducing quarter-hourly rates for the time being. How can consumers benefit from fluctuations in the energy market? Sticking to hourly rates may mean that consumers miss out on potential benefits that shorter price intervals could offer, especially during periods of extreme price fluctuations.
Advantages of quarter-hourly prices for consumers
The transition to quarter-hourly prices could offer significant advantages, particularly for consumers who can flexibly adjust their energy consumption.
From October 1, energy rates may be negative for 1.5 hours, meaning you will receive money for using electricity. This means that consumers can benefit longer from periods when they are paid to use electricity, for example by charging an electric car or switching on other high-consumption appliances. Conversely, periods with very high rates may be shorter, reducing the impact on energy bills. However, this does require consumers to actively monitor their energy consumption and adjust it to fluctuating prices.
Popularity of dynamic energy contracts
Dynamic energy contracts are gaining popularity in the Netherlands, especially among households with solar panels. On July 20, 2025, approximately 7% of Dutch households, or around 600,000 households, had a dynamic energy contract. These contracts are attractive because they avoid ‘feed-in tariffs’ that are sometimes introduced in fixed-rate contracts. With dynamic contracts, consumers pay or receive the current energy prices, which encourages them to use electricity when prices are low or negative and to feed electricity back into the grid when prices are high. This promotes more efficient energy use and can contribute to a more stable electricity grid.
The role of Tibber
Energy company Tibber is taking the lead by being one of the few companies to introduce quarter-hourly prices for both new and existing customers. Tibber considers the transition from hourly prices to quarter-hourly prices to be a “logical and positive step in the further modernization of the energy market,” it told NU.nl. This step may encourage other companies to offer quarter-hourly prices in the future, providing consumers with more opportunities to optimize their energy consumption and save costs. However, it remains to be seen whether other energy companies will follow suit, given Zonneplan's statements about the complexity of displaying 96 prices per day.
Implications for the energy market
The shift to quarter-hourly prices has potentially major implications for the entire energy market. It could lead to more efficient matching of supply and demand, reducing the strain on the grid and promoting the integration of renewable energy sources.
Consumers with dynamic contracts will be encouraged to adjust their consumption to the availability of solar and wind energy, for example. This could contribute to a more stable and sustainable energy system. However, the success of this transition depends on the willingness of energy suppliers to offer quarter-hourly prices and on the extent to which consumers can manage their energy consumption flexibly.
