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Households with dynamic energy contracts have been warned to cut their power use on Wednesday evening or face paying sky-high rates.
The hot weather and lack of wind has caused a spike in market prices that translates into temporary surges in prices when demand is highest.
Comparison site keuze.nl said the price per kilowatt hour (kWh) will hit €1.20 at 9pm on Wednesday, four times the normal rate on a summer evening.
High energy users, such as people with air conditioning, can save on their bills by switching on their appliances between 2pm and 4pm, when the rate is around 20 cents.
Dynamic energy contracts apply different rates per hour and can become much more expensive if demand soars.
The prices are set a day in advance in response to the previous day‘s price on the wholesale market.
Market broker Epox Spot said wholesale prices were due to hit €902 for a megawatt hour on Wednesday evening, the highest level in 19 years.
The inflated cost has been caused by the lack of wind in the Netherlands and Germany, which has forced gas-fired power stations to generate more electricity. The price is highest at around sunset on a still day, when solar and wind power production drops.
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