On Wednesday and Thursday, electricity prices have risen sharply. There are also large differences in the country. On Thursday, the price will temporarily exceed 8 kronor per kWh in Svealand and Götaland.
Jens Berggren, climate coach at Vattenfall, believes it is a fairly temporary peak.
About one-tenth of Swedes have so-called hourly pricing contracts. Then you pay the price set every hour on the Nord Pool electricity exchange.
Right now, demand for electricity is high, while production is low. Then you use other, more expensive production methods, according to Berggren.
This directly affects those who have hourly pricing.
Hourly pricing, fixed or variable
With a fixed electricity pricing contract, the price has already been agreed upon with the electricity supplier.
This is not affected at all by such temporary price spikes, says Berggren.
A variable contract, which more than half of households have, is a kind of middle ground. Then an average price is set over the month in retrospect.
This depends on how prices have varied during the past month and how customers have consumed.
The price peaks may be seen in the monthly invoice – but probably not very much, since the extremely high price only applies for a few hours.
Changed behavior after the electricity crisis
After the electricity crisis in 2022-2023, Swedes have developed an increased interest in optimizing their household electricity use, according to Vattenfall's survey.
At least 90 percent of Swedes have made behavioral changes to reduce their electricity consumption. This can be lowering the temperature, turning off lamps, or using fewer electric appliances at home.
Over 80 percent say it is important to make changes for purely climate reasons.
I think it's a combination. Concern for the planet and concern for one's own wallet, says Berggren.
What uses the most electricity in a household is what is used for heating or cooling something: shower water, floor heating, or the refrigerator, for example.
Postponing electricity use when it is most expensive – and not starting multiple electric appliances at the same time when you get home – is a tip for reducing costs.
If electricity prices are very high right now – and you can postpone this in some way – you can reduce your costs quite significantly, says Berggren.
Hanna Rasmusson/TT
Facts: Hourly pricing for electricity use on Thursday
TT
Shower for 10 minutes (4.6 kWh)
12.55 kr (hourly price 2-3 pm)
47.37 kr (hourly price 5-6 pm)
5.95 kr (hourly price 9-10 pm)
Washing machine 40 degrees (1.2 kWh)
3.27 kr (hourly price 2-3 pm)
12.36 kr (hourly price 5-6 pm)
1.55 kr (hourly price 9-10 pm)
Dishwasher (0.94 kWh)
2.56 kr (hourly price 2-3 pm)
9.68 kr (hourly price 5-6 pm)
1.22 kr (hourly price 9-10 pm)
Note: The prices are an estimate and include electricity costs, including VAT and average surcharge for a household customer with hourly pricing in electricity area SE3, which includes Stockholm and Gothenburg, among others. The cost of electricity grid or water is not included.
Source: Vattenfall
