What is a spot price electricity contract?

With a spot price (or exchange price) contract you pay the hourly Nord Pool market price for each kilowatt-hour you consume, plus a small margin for your energy supplier. The price changes every hour — it can be 2 c/kWh at 3 AM and 35 c/kWh at 8 AM on the same day. Over a full year the average is typically lower than a fixed-rate contract.

When are tomorrow's electricity prices published?

Nord Pool (the Nordic electricity exchange) publishes next-day prices every day at approximately 13:00–14:00 CET. Elewatt fetches those prices automatically and updates your device schedules the same afternoon, so your appliances are already programmed before the new day begins.

What fees make up my total electricity price?

Your electricity bill has several components: the Nord Pool spot price (the raw market rate), your supplier's margin, the grid/distribution fee (charged by your local network operator), a renewable energy levy, an excise tax, and VAT. Elewatt lets you enter all these components so calculations reflect your real cost.

Is spot pricing always cheaper than a fixed contract?

On average over a full year, yes — spot prices have historically been lower than the fixed rates energy companies offer, because fixed rates include a risk premium. However, individual hours or days can be very expensive. The key is automation: Elewatt shifts your consumption to the cheap hours so you benefit from the low prices without manual effort.

Why do electricity prices spike in the morning and evening?

Peak demand periods — when people wake up, cook, and turn on heating — coincide with lower solar output in early morning and lower wind output on calm evenings. This supply-demand imbalance drives prices up. Automation moves energy-intensive tasks (like heating water or charging your EV) to the night or midday when renewables are abundant and demand is low.

What happens to my electricity supply if prices are very high?

Your electricity is never cut off — the grid supplies power 24/7 regardless of price. Elewatt only controls optional, deferrable loads (like a water heater or EV charger) via smart plugs. Essential appliances, lights, and everything else continue working normally at all times.

Education HubTransparent electricity price: what you really pay

Electricity Pricing · Education

Transparent electricity price: what you really pay

A clear breakdown of market price, grid fees, taxes, and margins — and how Elewatt makes it easy.

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Typical fees included in the final price

Your final price is usually more than the market spot rate. The total often includes:

Market electricity price (spot price)
Grid fee (network and distribution)
Renewable energy tax or levy
Excise tax and VAT
Supplier margin on top of the electricity price

Make costs visible and predictable

With transparent pricing you avoid surprises. Elewatt shows clear breakdowns so you know exactly what you pay and why.

See your actual electricity prices

Use the interactive dashboard below to explore today's electricity prices in your country. Select your location, check different grid options, and see exactly what you'll pay per hour including all fees and taxes.

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