Spot prices and charging — how to take advantage of cheap electricity

Electricity prices in Norway change hour by hour. For those who charge their EV at home, this means the time you choose to charge can make a big difference in cost. By understanding how spot prices work and adapting your charging habits, you can cut charging costs by 30-50 percent.

How spot prices work in Norway

Norway is divided into five electricity price zones:

• NO1 — Eastern Norway (Oslo, Viken, Innlandet)
• NO2 — Southern Norway and Vestland south
• NO3 — Central Norway (Trondelag, More og Romsdal)
• NO4 — Northern Norway
• NO5 — Vestland north (Bergen area)

The electricity price in each zone is set hour by hour on the Nordic power exchange Nord Pool. Prices for the next day are published at 13:00 the day before, so you can always plan your charging in advance.

The spot price is only part of the total electricity cost. In addition, you pay:

• Grid tariff — fixed and variable part to the grid company
• Electricity tax — government tax (approx. 15-20 ore/kWh in 2026)
• VAT — 25% on everything
• Markup from electricity supplier — typically 1-5 ore/kWh

The total cost for home charging is therefore about 1.00-2.00 kr/kWh depending on spot price and price zone.

When is electricity cheapest?

Spot prices follow clear patterns you can take advantage of:

Throughout the day

• Cheapest: 00:00-06:00 (night)
• Medium: 10:00-15:00 and 20:00-24:00
• Most expensive: 07:00-09:00 and 17:00-19:00 (morning and afternoon rush)

The difference between the cheapest and most expensive hour in a day can be 50-200 ore/kWh, depending on season and price zone.

Throughout the week

• Weekends are generally cheaper than weekdays
• Friday afternoon to Sunday evening often has lower average prices

Throughout the year

• Summer (June-August): Lowest prices — lots of hydropower, low consumption
• Spring and autumn: Moderate prices
• Winter (December-February): Highest prices — high consumption, shorter days

Smart charging — let technology help you

Smart charging means your charger automatically schedules charging during the cheapest hours. Instead of starting charging as soon as you connect the car, the charger waits and charges when the electricity price is lowest.

How smart charging works in practice

1. You connect the car when you get home
2. You specify when the car should be fully charged (e.g., 07:00)
3. The charger fetches the spot prices for the night
4. Charging is automatically distributed across the cheapest hours

Most modern chargers and many EVs have built-in smart charging functionality. Popular chargers like Easee, Zaptec, and Wallbox all support smart charging via their apps.

Example: savings with smart charging

Let us say you charge 50 kWh on a typical winter day:

Over a year charging 3-4 times per week, this amounts to 7,000-9,000 kr in savings — just by shifting charging a few hours.

The capacity tariff — an important factor

Since 2022, Norwegian grid companies have gradually introduced capacity-based grid tariffs. This means you pay more in grid tariff the higher the power you draw from the grid.

For EV charging, this is relevant because:

• A 22 kW charger draws a lot of power and can result in a higher capacity charge
• A 7.4 kW charger is gentler on the capacity tariff
• Charging at night often results in a lower capacity charge than charging in the afternoon

Tips for keeping the capacity charge down:

• Charge at lower power (7.4 kW is enough for most who charge overnight)
• Avoid charging simultaneously with other large electricity consumers (oven, underfloor heating)
• Use smart charging to distribute charging over several hours
• Charge during periods of low other consumption (night)

Spot price and fast charging — is there a connection?

For home charging, the connection between spot price and charging cost is direct and clear. But what about fast charging?

Most fast charging operators in Norway have fixed kWh prices that do not vary with the spot price. This means you pay the same whether you fast charge in the middle of the night or the middle of the day.

Some exceptions exist:

• Some operators have started testing time-differentiated prices with lower prices at night
• Tesla Supercharger has at times had lower prices during off-season
• Some smaller operators adjust prices quarterly based on average electricity prices

Five smart charging strategies for a lower electricity bill

1. Use smart charging — let the charger find the cheapest hours automatically
2. Charge at night — between 00:00 and 06:00, electricity is almost always cheapest
3. Check tomorrow's prices — published at 13:00 on Nord Pool and in electricity apps
4. Keep power consumption down — charge at 7.4 kW overnight instead of 11 or 22 kW
5. Avoid charging during rush hour — 07:00-09:00 and 17:00-19:00 is when electricity is most expensive

Frequently asked questions