Fixed fee or percentage commission: which ERE model suits you?

Short answer: at low annual volumes, a 15% percentage commission usually nets more than a fixed annual fee of €79.99; somewhere around 5,100-5,200 kWh a year that flips, and the fixed fee becomes more favourable. This article shows the break-even point with a neutral worked table across four volume levels, and explains how the assumptions work.

Two ways providers take their share

Most ERE providers work with one of two main models. With a percentage commission, the provider withholds a fixed share of the gross value; in the market this typically ranges from 12% to 25%. With a fixed annual fee, you pay a set amount regardless of how much you charged, and keep the rest of the gross value yourself. There are also variants, such as a guaranteed fixed price per kWh (0-CO2, for instance, charges €0.13/kWh) or a guaranteed minimum on top of a commission (Vattenfall guarantees €0.05/kWh alongside a 25% deduction). This article compares the two main models; the logic carries over to the variants, but the exact calculation differs.

The assumptions behind this comparison

To compare providers fairly, this article works from a fixed set of assumptions:

• Market price: the current, cited market-wide ERE price of €0.31 per ERE (as of 7 September 2026, band €0.21-€0.41). Via the statutory factor of 0.33269 ERE/kWh, that works out to roughly €0.1031 gross per kWh.
• Commission model: 15%, as charged by Laadbeloning and Stekker.
• Fixed-fee model: €79.99 a year, as charged by Groen-laden.nl in 2026 (€74.99 on a two-year contract).
• Full verifiability: we assume the entire annual volume is eligible; in practice this can be lower.

The calculator and comparison table elsewhere on this site use a simplified, stable working price of €0.12/kWh rather than the current market price, so figures there can differ slightly from the table below, which deliberately uses the current price.

Break-even table: fixed fee versus 15% commission

Annual volume	Gross value	Net at 15% commission	Net at €79.99/year	Best option
1,500 kWh	€155	€131	€75	Commission (+€56)
3,000 kWh	€309	€263	€229	Commission (+€34)
5,000 kWh	€516	€438	€436	Commission (+€2, nearly level)
8,000 kWh	€825	€701	€745	Fixed fee (+€44)

Figures are rounded to whole euros; small rounding differences between columns are possible. At low volumes the fixed fee weighs relatively heavily, which makes the commission more favourable. At high volumes the commission becomes larger than the fixed fee in absolute euros, and the fixed fee wins out.

Where exactly is the break-even point?

The break-even point is the volume at which both models net exactly the same amount. It can be calculated as: annual fee divided by (commission rate × gross price per kWh). At 15% commission and the current price, that break-even point sits at roughly 5,170 kWh a year. Below that volume the commission is more favourable; above it, the fixed fee is.

At a higher commission rate that point shifts lower: at 20% commission the break-even is around 3,880 kWh, at 25% around 3,100 kWh. The higher a provider’s commission rate, the sooner a fixed fee, where one is available, becomes worthwhile.

What this means for your choice

If you charge less than around 5,000 kWh a year, for example with a car that’s mostly used for short trips or isn’t driven daily, a percentage commission is generally more favourable than a fixed annual fee of €79.99 at current prices. If you drive a lot of kilometres and consistently charge more than 5,000-6,000 kWh a year, it’s worth seriously considering a fixed-fee provider. Use our calculator with your own annual mileage and consumption to estimate your own charging volume, rather than relying on the example volumes above.

Also bear in mind that the break-even point moves with the market price: if the ERE price rises, the gross value per kWh rises too, and the break-even point in kWh falls - the fixed fee becomes attractive at a lower volume. If the price falls, the opposite happens.

More than money alone

A purely financial comparison isn’t the whole story. Payout frequency, contract term, notice period and the presence of correction or reserve clauses can matter just as much as a difference of a few tens of euros a year. Inboekdienst.nl, for instance, charges a low commission of 12%, but with a 24-month lock-in instead of the usual 12 - an attractively low rate doesn’t tell you everything about how long you’re committed for. See our article on gross versus net ERE earnings for a more detailed worked example that includes those factors.

Independence and placement

This comparison is deliberately neutral: EREVergelijken.eu does not accept paid placement from providers, and the ranking in our comparison is not for sale. The figures in this article are based on public terms with the stated check date; always confirm current rates with the provider itself before making a choice.

Summary

At current price levels, a 15% percentage commission is more favourable up to around 5,170 kWh a year; above that, a fixed annual fee of €79.99 wins out. The exact break-even point depends on the provider’s commission rate and the current market price, so work it out with your own volume rather than relying on a rule of thumb.