ACM warns solar-panel owners of lower returns
Net metering ends in 2027, while differences between energy contracts remain substantial.
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The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is warning households with solar panels to review their energy contracts. From 1 January 2027, they will no longer be able to offset electricity fed back into the grid against electricity taken from it.
In its new Energy Monitor, the ACM writes that the end of the net-metering scheme could have significant financial consequences. From 2027, households will receive compensation from their supplier for solar power fed back into the grid, but this is usually lower than the tariff they pay for electricity taken from the grid.
The law stipulates that the feed-in tariff must be at least 50 per cent of the basic supply tariff up to and including 31 December 2029. This is the supply tariff excluding energy tax and VAT. The compensation is therefore not the same as the total electricity price on the energy bill.
The ACM expects feed-in charges to fall after 1 January 2027, because suppliers will then no longer incur costs for the net-metering scheme. Other costs will remain, such as the costs of keeping the electricity grid in balance when solar-panel production fluctuates sharply.
According to the regulator, there are major differences between contracts and suppliers. That is why feed-in charges will be included in the monthly Energy Monitor from this month. The ACM says comparing offers can pay off, but at the same time warns about salespeople pressuring consumers to buy an expensive home battery.
At the end of October, around 89,000 home batteries were registered with grid operators among households and businesses. According to the ACM, the registered capacity was around 1.1 gigawatts, compared with 0.3 gigawatts at the end of October 2025. The ACM stresses that the actual number may be higher because small plug-in batteries are not always registered.
The question behind the change is who bears the cost of solar power. Households that use a large share of their electricity themselves may become less dependent on compensation for feeding electricity into the grid. Households that feed back a relatively large share will face a different calculation from 2027. Exactly how large the difference will be depends on the contract, consumption, feed-in volumes and market prices.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- The ACM expects feed-in charges to fall after 1 January 2027 because suppliers will no longer incur costs for the net-metering scheme.
- The registered capacity of home batteries rose from 0.3 gigawatts at the end of October 2025 to around 1.1 gigawatts at the end of October 2026.
▼ Concerns
- Electricity fed back into the grid usually receives lower compensation than the supply tariff.
- The ACM reports major differences between energy contracts and suppliers.
Critical note
This news is not about one uniform compensation rate or a fixed saving. The outcome depends on self-consumption, contract terms, feed-in charges and market prices; according to the ACM, a home battery is therefore not automatically profitable.
Who notices what
- Households
- From 2027, solar-panel owners will need to reckon with a different relationship between the value of self-consumed and grid-fed electricity.
- Businesses
- Energy companies will have more scope to offer contracts without net-metering costs, but will continue to incur costs for balancing the grid.
- Government
- Regulators must continue monitoring differences between contracts and misleading sales involving home batteries.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The net-metering scheme ends on 1 January 2027.
- Electricity fed back into the grid will receive compensation amounting to at least 50 per cent of the basic supply tariff until the end of 2029.
- The ACM expects lower feed-in charges, but also refers to other costs that will remain.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that households that have invested in solar panels must not suddenly be confronted with unpredictable costs and that collective grid costs should be distributed fairly.
Values Affordability, consumer protection and a fair energy transition.
Consequences Wants strong transparency requirements and possibly additional protection for households with limited financial means.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises that net metering is gradually giving way to a system in which self-consumption, market prices and grid costs become more visible.
Values Practicality, predictability and a stable energy market.
Consequences Accepts the policy change, but wants oversight of contracts and misleading battery sales.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that subsidies and net metering can distort market incentives and that households should be free to choose how they use their electricity.
Values Ownership, freedom of choice and limiting government interference.
Consequences Primarily wants room for suppliers and consumers, with clear but limited rules against misleading practices.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The explanation of the end of net metering, the minimum compensation, feed-in charges and registered home batteries follows the ACM publication. The text avoids its own savings calculation and makes clear that the outcome varies by contract.
- confirmed The net-metering scheme ends on 1 January 2027. — The ACM and ACM ConsuWijzer name this date. source
- confirmed The minimum compensation is 50 per cent of the basic supply tariff up to and including 2029. — ACM Energy Monitor. source
- confirmed Around 89,000 home batteries were registered at the end of October. — ACM Energy Monitor, with the qualification that small batteries are sometimes not registered. source
Editor's note
The legal rules, the ACM's expectations and the numbers of home batteries come from the ACM publication. Future financial consequences vary by contract and have therefore not been given as a fixed amount.Sources
- Energiemonitor ACM: einde salderingsregeling goed moment om energiecontract te controleren — Autoriteit Consument en Markt
- Salderen en terugleveren — ACM ConsuWijzer
- Regeling tot wijziging van de Energieregeling — Rijksoverheid
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „zonnepanelen salderen”
- Het Parool — „zonnepanelen salderen”
- de Volkskrant — „zonnepanelen salderen”