ABN AMRO: Middle East conflict has limited impact on Dutch energy bills

The impact of the conflict in the Middle East on Dutch household energy bills remains limited, according to a report by ABN AMRO. Based on anonymized transaction data from approximately one million customers, the bank found that the average monthly energy bill in the first half of 2026 was around 160 euros, showing little increase despite higher market prices.

Economists at the bank attribute this stability to the prevalence of fixed-price contracts. While gas prices have risen, many households have transitioned to using more electricity than gas, and current contract rates for electricity are not significantly higher than they were one to two years ago. This differs from the 2022 energy crisis following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which saw immediate and sharp increases in household payments.

In contrast, fuel costs have seen a more noticeable rise. Between March and July, households spent an average of 765 euros on fuel, compared to 708 euros during the same period the previous year—an increase of approximately 8 percent. However, this rise in spending is lower than the actual increase in pump prices, suggesting that consumers are reducing fuel consumption or switching to cheaper stations.