Policy options for tackling energy poverty in vulnerable households

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is committed to making sure that markets work well for all people and businesses. That is why ACM sees to it that there is fair competition on the energy market. Electricity and natural gas are basic essentials, but the energy-price crisis made it clear that energy is not always affordable for everyone. Fair competition is therefore no guarantee for affordable energy. This particularly affects vulnerable households. In this paper, ACM will flesh out this argument in greater detail. In that context, it will put forward several policy options for keeping energy affordable for vulnerable households, even in times of sharply rising energy prices.