7 things worth knowing about electricity after the summer holidays

Summer is coming to an end, and now - before the cold arrives - is the time to make some smart choices about your electricity. Here are seven things I believe are worth knowing before the autumn and winter of 2026/27, whether you're a new customer or have been with us for a long time.

1. Reservoir levels are lower than normal - especially in Central Norway

In mid-July, the filling level of Norwegian water reservoirs was 62.8 percent. The normal for this time of year over the past 20 years is around 70 percent. Central Norway stands out with the lowest level measured at this time of year in 20 years - just 57.6 percent. You can follow the development week by week in NVE's reservoir statistics (in Norwegian).

Filling level of Norwegian water reservoirs, July 2026

What does this mean in practice? The water reservoirs are Norway's "battery" through the winter. The less water we enter autumn with, the more vulnerable prices become to a cold and dry winter. The rainfall in September and October will decide what this winter is going to cost.

2. Europe's gas storage is low - and Russian gas is being phased out

After a cold winter and unrest in the Middle East, Europe entered the summer with its lowest gas storage levels since 2022. At the same time, the EU's import ban on Russian LNG takes effect on 1 January 2027 - in the middle of the heating season.

Why does this matter to you in Norway? Gas prices drive electricity prices on the continent, and through the interconnectors, high prices spill over into Southern Norway - and since last autumn, further into Central Norway as well. If the winter turns cold in Europe, we will notice it on our bills here at home.

3. Do you have Norgespris or strømstøtte?

With the current price picture, Norgespris pays off across the whole country except Northern Norway - yes, including Trondheim and the rest of Central Norway. Last winter, spot prices in Central Norway were above the 50 øre threshold in almost every hour of January, and little suggests the coming winter will be cheaper.

If you live in Northern Norway, Norgespris is 40 øre/kWh - customers in the north do not pay VAT on electricity. But because spot prices in NO4 can still stay below 40 øre for large parts of the year, the calculation is more uncertain there. At the same time, last winter showed that Northern Norway can also see expensive periods.

Norgespris is a regulation that runs until 2029, and a new reference price is set every year. The new reference value for 2027 will be announced towards the end of 2026 - and you must actively re-order if you want to continue with Norgespris next year. Don't have BankID? We will help you with the order. You can read the full Norgespris regulation on Lovdata (in Norwegian).

Also remember: Norgespris is not an electricity contract. Both Norgespris and strømstøtte (the state electricity support scheme) are support schemes that come on top of an ordinary electricity contract - such as Spot Zero. You still need an electricity contract with a supplier, whichever support scheme you choose.

How the two schemes work:

	Norgespris	Ordinary strømstøtte
Price/threshold	Fixed 50 øre/kWh incl. VAT (40 øre/kWh in Northern Norway, which is VAT-exempt)	The state covers 90% of the spot price above 96.25 øre/kWh incl. VAT
When it pays off	When the spot price is above 50 øre for large parts of the year	When prices are mostly low, with occasional price spikes
Commitment	Until the end of the calendar year	None - applies automatically
What you need to do	Order it yourself - and re-order for 2027	Nothing

We will come back with a thorough review once the new reference price for 2027 is known.

4. Do you have a cabin? Norgespris also covers holiday homes

Many people don't know this: holiday homes do not receive ordinary strømstøtte at all. But Norgespris also applies to your cabin - at the same price as at home, for the first 1,000 kWh per month per metering point. Consumption above the cap is charged at the ordinary price through your electricity contract.

If you use the cabin a lot in winter, or keep it frost-free through the season, this may be worth calculating before the cold arrives. Note that company cabins and cabins mainly used for rental are not covered by the scheme - but if you run a business, we offer dedicated electricity contracts for businesses.

The renewal rules are the same as for your home: the commitment lasts until the end of 2026, and you must re-order for 2027.

5. Central Norway enters its first full winter at the new price level

As we explained in our article about the price shock in Central and Northern Norway: the new 420 kV line across the Sognefjord ties Central Norway to southern prices, and analysts estimate a lasting price lift of 0.15-0.20 NOK/kWh compared with the old levels. Last winter, fewer than five percent of households in Central Norway had chosen Norgespris - and many regretted it when the January prices arrived.

This winter, there is no reason to be caught off guard. The very low prices Central Norway was used to are not coming back.

6. Norway is setting consumption records - the most expensive hours are getting more expensive

On 7 January 2026, Norway used 25.3 GWh in a single hour - a new record. Consumption is growing faster than production, and NVE expects the margin between what we can produce at most and what we use at most to more than halve towards 2030.

What this means for you: the price peaks in the morning (approx. 07:00-10:00) and afternoon (approx. 16:00-20:00) will get sharper. If you can move laundry, drying and charging out of these hours, that is where the biggest savings are.

7. Night charging still pays off - even with Norgespris

Several grid companies report that customers with Norgespris have started charging their EVs during the day, since their electricity price is the same around the clock. But the grid rent (nettleie) is not the same: the capacity charge is based on your highest consumption peaks of the month, and many grid companies have cheaper energy rates at night. We explain how nettleie works in our guide to nettleie.

Charge at night. It pays off regardless of your electricity contract - and you help keep the grid stable when the pressure is at its greatest.

Quick summary

Reservoir levels are below normal and Europe's gas storage is thin - winter prices depend more on the weather than they have in a long time. Follow the development in NVE's reservoir statistics.
Norgespris now pays off across the whole country except Northern Norway, where the price is 40 øre because customers in the north do not pay VAT on electricity. A new reference price for 2027 comes at the end of 2026, and you must re-order yourself - the full regulation is on Lovdata.
Do you have a cabin? Holiday homes do not get ordinary strømstøtte, but can get Norgespris for the first 1,000 kWh per month.
Prices in Central Norway have seen a lasting lift - read why here - and price peaks across the country are getting sharper.
Shift consumption to the night - it pays off whatever contract you have. We explain why in the nettleie guide.

We will follow the market throughout the winter and return with a new update in the new year.

This article is intended as general information. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Kind regards,
Filip from Viddakraft