You're in the flow. Charger connected, you roughly understand what ERE registration is, you've seen that "10 cents" calculation come by. And then suddenly comes the step that feels like signing up for a phone plan from 2009.

Choose duration. One year, three years, five years.

Five years. For something that's still new. For a market where everyone simultaneously says the price will fluctuate. Is that actually allowed?

What are we talking about, contract or authorization?

It helps to separate one thing.

A provider can have you sign two things.

A service agreement. That's just a contract. It often states how they pay out, what commission they take, and how long you're locked in.

And an authorization allowing them to register on your behalf in the register. With ERE, this quickly involves eHerkenning at level EH3, because that's how you access the right portals. Think of it as permission to act on your behalf.

That second one feels innocent, but it's the key. Without authorization, nothing can be registered on your behalf.

And that's exactly why the duration is sensitive. It's not just about money, it's about control.

What does the NEa say about multi-year authorizations?

The Dutch Emissions Authority describes that authorizations are issued per full calendar years and may also be valid for multiple years. They explicitly mention examples such as one year, two years, three years, and so on.

So yes, a multi-year authorization fits within how the NEa describes the process.

However, and this is where you need to stay sharp as a home charger. A process description is not the same as a clear statement about what commercial providers should or shouldn't do properly towards consumers. Things like canceling mid-term, switching, and what exactly happens with your data and your ongoing bookings — there's no clear public guideline yet that really frames these "1, 3 or 5 year" choice menus.

But does this happen in practice, 3 or 5 years?

Yes. This is not hypothetical.

In a Tweakers discussion about ERE, someone literally writes that during registration a duration of 1, 3 or 5 years is requested. Another mentions "up to 5 years" as a red flag.

You see this pattern more often. The longer you're locked in, the more "favorable" the offer seems. Lower fee, higher cents per kWh, or just less hassle, they say.

That sounds logical, until you realize you're in a market that still needs to mature.

Why a long duration feels extra risky now

Ask yourself a few simple questions.

What if the returns disappoint and you're done with it after a year. You tried it, nice, next.

What if the provider changes their terms. Different payout moments, extra costs, or slightly different rules.

What if you want to switch. Not because you're fighting, but because you'd prefer more transparency, or because your situation changes.

And the question nobody wants to face, but you need to let sink in. What if that party stops or turns out to work sloppily.

In theory, you can revoke an authorization. In practice, you mainly want to know what that means for your ongoing registration and your data.

Another detail that many people only discover later. The NEa can correct incorrect bookings up to five years after the calendar year to which that booking relates.

That doesn't mean you're locked in for five years. It does mean you'd rather not end up in a situation where, after a conflict or switch, you no longer have insight into what exactly was booked and how.

What's the best thing to do then?

You don't have to immediately conclude that a multi-year authorization is wrong by definition. Sometimes it's just convenience.

But you do want three things to be right.

Can you stop without hassle. Can you switch without feeling your charger or data is held hostage. Do you get a clear answer upfront about what happens if you revoke the authorization.

If a provider answers those clearly, then you can weigh for yourself whether three or five years is worth it.

If the answer remains vague, one year suddenly becomes quite attractive. Not because you're "afraid", but because you're buying yourself time.

This connects directly to the rest of your choice

If you want to dive deeper into this, these articles connect nicely:

The conclusion in plain language

Multi-year authorizations can fit within the NEa's process description. That's black and white.

But contracts or choices that lock you in for three or five years deserve extra questions. Especially now that the market is new, prices will move, and practice is still developing.

So if you see a provider who wants you to sign for five years. Then it's not strange if you lean back for a moment. Ask some more questions. Sign nothing for now.

Your charger will still charge tomorrow.

3 or 5 year authorizations for ERE registration, is that actually allowed?