Can my supplier charge extra for a paper bill?
In principle no for consumers without a digital alternative. €1-€3/month surcharge = often invalid under Awgb. Defense explained.
Paper-bill surcharges (€1-€3 monthly) are increasingly legally challengable. Arguments against: (a) Consumer law — surcharge can't exceed actual extra cost (BW 6:230 + Unfair Commercial Practices Act); (b) Equal Treatment Act — elderly, no-internet, or unbanked consumers are disproportionately affected = indirect discrimination; (c) Energy Act 2024 + Regulation 944/2019 — right to transparent billing; no obligation to invoice digitally. ACM has warned suppliers about disproportionate surcharges since 2023. What to do: written request to remove surcharge, cite the three arguments + age or digital exclusion if applicable; on refusal: GCE complaint. High success rate at big suppliers wanting compliance. Allowed: paper as premium service with explicit contractual confirmation (rare).