Gas prices have risen sharply in recent months, reportedly as a result of the war in the Middle East, and households are expected to pay more for heating than last year. Tom Schuitemaker of comparison site Pricewise said gas was 40 to 50 cents per cubic metre more expensive than a year earlier. For a household using about 1,000 cubic metres annually, that would add around €500 to the gas bill, with electricity potentially adding another €250. Price-comparison websites have seen more people seeking to lock in their energy prices through fixed contracts. Providers including Independer and Overstappen.nl have also observed this increase.