Households with a dynamic energy contract more often use a system to smartly control their heat pump than households without a dynamic contract. This results in savings on their energy costs. This is evident from research among 1,818 heat pump owners in October 2025. The research was conducted on behalf of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Netbeheer Nederland, and Techniek Nederland.
What is smart control?
By smartly controlling a heat pump, it automatically turns on at favorable times and off at unfavorable times. Energy prices, weather, and the households living pattern partly determine what a favorable moment is. Of the heat pump owners with a dynamic energy contract, 19% use smart control. Among participants without such a contract, this is only 6%.
Advantages of smart control
Smart control can lead to lower energy costs, higher heat output, and less noise nuisance. The user can adjust settings and choose which of these positive effects is emphasized in smart control. Smart control can also help to prevent an overloaded electricity grid (grid congestion).
Saving energy costs is important
26.1% of the participants in the research already have a dynamic energy contract. Smart control is done via an energy management system, price-dependent control, or other software. Participants cite saving energy costs as the main reason to choose smart control.
Large majority recommends heat pump
87.5% of the participants recommend a heat pump. Heat pump owners find that their installation has several advantages, such as:
- less energy consumption;
- a more sustainable home;
- and a lower monthly energy bill.
Cooling by heat pump makes home more comfortable
31% of the participants also use their heat pump for cooling. They mainly cool the living room, kitchen, and bedroom. 87% of heat pump owners with cooling find the home more comfortable with this cooling.
Participants satisfied with maintenance costs
74% of the heat pump owners who participated in the research have performed maintenance or plan to do so. 71% are satisfied with the maintenance costs. 17% of the participants find the maintenance costs too expensive.
Read the research
If you want to know more about the research results, read the full research on Installatiemonitor.nl.
About the research
RVO conducted this research together with Netbeheer Nederland and Techniek Nederland. Consulting firm BDH-Advies coordinated the survey. The research runs until June 2026 and provides insight into the performance of heat pumps in practice. For example, it also considers the impact heat pumps have on the electricity grid.
- Ministry of Climate and Sustainable Growth