The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has launched an awareness campaign warning consumers about unsolicited or aggressive sellers of energy products and sustainability advice. The regulator said it was seeing more reports of consumers paying hundreds of euros for misleading advice or unintentionally signing home-battery contracts worth tens of thousands of euros. The Consumers' Association, the Fraud Helpdesk, the Legal Aid Desk and Vereniging Eigen Huis supported the warning.

According to the ACM, high energy costs, the planned end of the net-metering scheme on 1 January 2027 and the range of sustainability products are creating uncertainty that unreliable sellers exploit through false promises, withheld information and pressure. In a survey of 1,800 people, nearly half said they had been approached by telephone or at home to buy energy products, mainly solar panels and home batteries. The ACM urged consumers to investigate independently, including by contacting their municipality. The Consumers' Association said it had received almost 1,000 complaints in a year and could pursue companies and seek refunds for consumers where possible.