Essent variable contracts from 1 October: 0.3109 per kWh and 1.4996 per m³, so multiply your annual use by two price gaps

If your electricity and gas come from Essent on a variable-price contract, from 1 October you pay 0.3109 euro for every kWh of electricity and 1.4996 euro for every cubic metre of gas, including VAT and energy tax. From 1 July the prices were 0.2691 for electricity and 1.3895 for gas, so electricity rises by about 15.5% and gas by about 7.9%. Essent blames geopolitical tension for higher wholesale gas prices, which also lift electricity, and notes that about 60% of the bill is taxes and levies. For newcomers and students on a variable contract, the decision in the next two weeks is concrete: stay on variable prices or switch to a fixed-price contract. A variable contract can be ended at any time without a cancellation fee. So first find the kWh and cubic metres on last year's annual statement. This is not a promotion but a regular quarterly price change.

• What changes: Essent announced on 24 August that from 1 October its variable electricity price is 0.3109 euro per kWh and gas 1.4996 euro per m³; customers who want more certainty can switch to a multi-year fixed contract at any time. (source 1)
• Compared with last time: prices from 1 July were 0.2691 for electricity and 1.3895 for gas, already 13.0% and 13.4% above the second quarter, and Essent said then that variable-contract customers receive a personal notice. (source 2)
• Your rights: ConsuWijzer, the consumer guide of the Dutch regulator ACM, says a supplier must tell you new prices at least one month in advance; a variable-price contract can be ended at any time without a cancellation fee (opzegvergoeding), with a notice period set in the contract of at most one month; on a fixed-price contract the supplier may not simply raise prices, although changes in taxes and grid charges can be passed on. (source 3, source 4)
• Check before comparing: the announcement lists only the price per kWh and per m³, not the fixed monthly delivery charge (vaste leveringskosten) or grid charges, so compare a fixed offer using the same annual use and include both fixed monthly charges. (source 1)

Do the sum yourself: if the new prices held for a full year, the extra cost = annual kWh × (0.3109 − 0.2691) + annual m³ × (1.4996 − 1.3895), which is kWh × 0.0418 + m³ × 0.1101. A household using 2,300 kWh and 900 m³ a year pays 2,300 × 0.0418 + 900 × 0.1101 = 96.14 + 99.09 = 195.23 euro more. To compare with a fixed contract, multiply the same annual use by each contract's unit prices, add each fixed monthly charge and see which total is lower. Put in the two numbers from your own statement.

Hokimi field note: look up your own kWh and cubic metres on the annual statement or in the Essent app before comparing; a price gap worked out on an online average household may not hold for yours.