FFCheckEnergieCheck
NLEN

Can I refuse a smart meter — or have it switched off?

DIRECT ANSWER

Yes. The Energy Act gives you three options: fully active, "administratively off" (read only once monthly), or full refusal. Nobody can force you.

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

When offering a smart meter the grid operator must give you three choices (Energy Act 2024 art. 8.5):

  1. fully activeautomatic hourly readings, annual statement runs
  2. "administratively off"meter read only once monthly for billing, no detailed export
  3. full refusala traditional "dumb" meter is installed or kept. On refusal the operator may charge a reasonable cost-based surcharge for manual reading. ACM has previously sanctioned coercive operators. Refusing by letter? Ask confirmation of your choice + confirmation that no detailed data is stored.

Related

What is a smart meterThe smart meter reads your consumption every 15 minutes and reports to the grid operator. Can you refuse it? Who sees your data? We explain …Is the smart meter privacy-safeDetailed readings could in theory reveal presence patterns. In practice this is tightly walled since 2018. Here what the DPA and grid operat…What is the Energy Act 2024The Dutch Energy Act 2024 replaces the old Gas Act and 1998 Electricity Act and gives you, as a consumer, stronger rights — against price hi…

Sources

Updated: 2026-05-28

Other FFCheck pillars

PrivacyCheckForce any Dutch company to delete youReisclaimEU 261 flight-delay €250–€600 claimsKlachtenFormal complaint letters that landBelastingCheckWOZ, IB and toeslagen bezwaar
Fix-it guarantee

Not happy? We regenerate the PDF free — no questions.

PDF in your inbox

Within 60 seconds of payment. With VAT invoice.

Registered Dutch company

VAT + Chamber of Commerce on every invoice. Fully VAT-compliant.

KvK 82724822 BTW NL003722987B94