Very low electricity prices in the second quarter

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The average price of electricity for households, excluding taxes and grid rent, was 14.9 øre per kWh in the second quarter of 2020. This is 67 per cent lower compared to the second quarter of 2019 and a record low electricity price.

In their quarterly electricity market report, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate emphasized high electricity production, a large hydrological surplus and reduced export capacities as important reasons for the record low electricity prices in Norway in the second quarter.

The overall price of electricity for households, including grid rent and taxes, was on average 72.8 øre per kWh in the second quarter of 2020, according to new figures from the electricity price statistics. This is 35 per cent lower compared to the second quarter of 2019. The price of electricity amounted to 20 per cent, the grid rent 39 per cent and taxes came to 41 per cent. 

Figure 1. Electricity prices, grid rent and taxes for households

Electricity price Taxes Grid rent
Q1-2012 34.4 26.9 26.3
Q2-2012 26.1 25 26.3
Q3-2012 20 23.6 26.1
Q4-2012 30.4 26.3 26.4
Q1-2013 34.9 27.3 26.4
Q2-2013 34.6 27.1 26.4
Q3-2013 33.4 26.7 26.4
Q4-2013 35.6 27.3 26.4
Q1-2014 31.5 27.3 26.0
Q2-2014 26.6 26.3 26.0
Q3-2014 31.6 27.3 26.0
Q4-2014 31.7 27.4 26.0
Q1-2015 31.3 29.8 26.3
Q2-2015 26.0 28.7 26.3
Q3-2015 20.0 27.9 26.0
Q4-2015 25.9 29.2 26.0
Q1-2016 28.7 32.1 26.6
Q2-2016 28.8 32.3 27.3
Q3-2016 30.5 32.7 27.3
Q4-2016 37.6 34.9 27.9
Q1-2017 34.3 34.3 27.9
Q2-2017 33.1 33.9 27.9
Q3-2017 33.3 34.0 27.9
Q4-2017 36.0 34.5 27.9
Q1-2018 42.5 36.0 27.9
Q2-2018 44.6 36.8 28.9
Q3-2018 55.3 39.2 28.9
Q4-2018 54.8 39.2 29.4
Q1-2019 55.2 38.7 30.4
Q2-2019 45.6 36.6 30.4
Q3-2019 42.5 35.9 30.4
Q4-2019 46.8 36.6 28.9
Q1-2020 26.8 32.1 28.9
Q2-2020 14.9 29.8 28.1

Spot price contracts cheapest

Households with spot price contracts had the cheapest contract type in the second quarter of 2020 with an average electricity price of 12.3 øre per kWh, excluding taxes and grid rent. This is the lowest spot price recorded since the third quarter of 2007. Spot price contracts are the most common contract type for households (see figure 3).

Households with older fixed price contracts had the most expensive contract type in the second quarter of 2020 with an average electricity price of 35.5 øre per kWh, excluding taxes and grid rent. Only two per cent of households had this contract type in the second quarter of 2020.

Figure 2.Price of electric energy for households, taxes and grid rent excluded. Q2 2020

Øre/kWh
New fixed price contracts – 1 year or less 23.7
New fixed price contracts – 1 year or more 34.3
All other fixed-price contracts 35.5
Contracts tied to spot price 12.3
Variable price (not tied to spot price) 22.8

Figure 3. Distribution of contract types. Q2 2020

Fixed-price contracts Contracts tied to spot price Variable price contracts
Households 2.3 78.2 19.5
Services 7.8 88.0 4.2
Manufacturing excl. energy-intensive manufacturin 5.3 88.3 6.4