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The Energy Disputes Committee — how does a complaint work and what does it cost?

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€52.50 fee, binding ruling, processing ~4-6 months. Consumer success rate is high. We explain procedure and strategy.

Reviewed by FFCheck-redactie · Last reviewed 2026-05-28

The Energy Disputes Committee (GCE) is part of the Dutch consumer-disputes foundation. Requirements to file:

  1. you complained in writing to your supplier first
  2. the supplier did not respond within 6 weeks or was unsatisfactory
  3. the complaint is < 1 year old
  4. the supplier is affiliated (the big 4Eneco/Vattenfall/Essent/Greenchoice; many small ones too). Costs: €52.50 consumers, €185 SMEs. Procedure: written phase + sometimes a hearing. The ruling is binding on both parties. Consumer success rate is around 50-60% on well-substantiated complaints. Pro tip: attach all correspondence, photos and invoices; cite specific legal articles.

Related

Where to complain about energy supplier4 routes, in this order: supplier itself → Geschillencommissie Energie → ACM → civil court. We explain which route, when and at what cost.Geschillencommissie complaint draft We draft the complaint file for your Geschillencommissie case — with timeline, substantiation and the relief sought. €19.ACM — complaint about energy supplierACM (Authority Consumer & Markets) structurally enforces the Energy Act. No individual damages — but policy enforcement. We explain when ACM…Kifid vs GCE vs ACM — which bodyKifid for financial disputes (insurance, mortgage), GCE for energy contracts + grid, ACM for structural market breaches. Here is the map.

Sources

Updated: 2026-05-28

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