How has your energy bill evolved over the past 10 years?

The evolution of our energy bill © Shutterstock

In order to achieve climate objectives, our country must accelerate its energy transition. This means that consumers must not only opt for more renewable energy, but also make efforts to consume less electricity. Our energy consumption, how has it evolved over the past 10 years? And have we succeeded in reducing our  energy bill ?

A favorable development

In 2008, Belgians consumed 8,615 kWh on average. 10 years later, annual consumption stood at 7,132 kWh, a drop of over 17%. Important note: households with solar panels have significantly reduced this percentage. They take significantly less electricity from the grid because they also use the electricity produced by their solar panels.

Other factors that reduce energy consumption are, for example, a better insulated home and  electrical appliances energy efficient. In Belgium, the average consumption of natural gas is 2,325 kWh per year (for cooking and using hot water). When we use natural gas to heat our home, the average consumption of natural gas is 23,250 kWh per year. These 2 figures have also experienced a downward trend over the past 10 years. At this level, energy efficient water heaters and the transition to renewable alternatives play a crucial role. Good to know: we mainly use energy for heating our homes and sanitary facilities as well as for lighting, washing, cooking and cooling / freezing food. So we have already taken a step in the right direction,

Rising network charges and tariffs

In addition, the question is what is the impact of this declining energy consumption on your bill. During the first half of 2019, the Belgians paid 946.67 euros for a consumption of 3,500 kWh while in April 2013, they had to pay only 778.09 euros. It is above all the costly withdrawals, tax increases and network tariffs that have increased our electricity bill. Unfortunately, in the final tally, this development largely offset the effect of declining energy consumption. This finding does not apply to our natural gas bill (today, it amounts to an average of 1,318.98 euros compared to 1,528.15 euros in April 2013, i.e. a decrease of 16.6% ).

Save by comparing

Fortunately, many households still have considerable savings potential. You can maximize it, among other things through rational energy consumption and energy-efficient renovations. An even easier solution is to compare your energy bill with the best deal on the market. On the comparison site Monenergie.be, we have calculated that by changing your energy and gas supplier, you can easily save hundreds of euros on an annual basis.