If you are living in a second hand rental, chances are that your landlord is handling the electricity. However, if you are renting firsthand or have bought your own place, this is something you will have to set up yourself. Here we will guide you through what you need to know to get a good electricity set up.
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The initial part of it will probably seem a bit confusing because in order to get electricity at home, you need to have contracts with two companies, with the:
- electricity network operator who owns the grid where you live and transports the electricity to your home
- and one with an electricity supplier that sells the electricity to you.
You won’t be able to choose which network operator to use, but you can choose your electricity supplier.
What happens if I don’t chose electricity supplier?
If you don’t choose an electricity supplier, you will receive a special contract known as an “Anvisningsavtal”(designated contract). This may not be the best deal for you so it is usually a good idea to make an active choice.
What types of price settings are there?
Most companies will offer two types of electricity price:
- a variable electricity price, that follows the fluctuations of the market,
- or a guaranteed fixed price for up to three years.
Can I choose energy source?
You can make choices about the energy source that provides your electricity, usually between wind, hydro or nuclear power. You don’t have to make a choice and if you don’t you will get a mix of different energy sources.
What information do I need to give the electricity supplier to start a contract?
The information the companies require is usually:
- Your personal identity number
- Your name, address and phone number
- The date you want your electricity supply contract to start
- Your network area ID and your electrical installation ID. You can find this information on your electricity bill or you can request this information when you register with your network operator.
- A contact person who will sign contracts as well as be the contact person. Both the network and supply contracts must be signed by the same person.
What do I do if I don’t have a Swedish personal number?
We have unfortunately and so far not been able to find an electricity provider that accepts contracts without a personal number.
Please let us know if you have a tip on a provider that doesn’t require a personal number so we can update our information.
Why am I getting two invoices for electricity?
Because you usually have two electricity contracts, you will have to pay twice.
- The network operator for the operation and maintenance of the power grid. This is made up of a fixed charge and a flexible charge which reflects your electricity consumption.
- The electricity supplier for the electricity that you use – a variable or fixed price per kilowatt-hour, depending on which electricity contract you have chosen.
- In addition you will pay VAT and energy tax to the Swedish state, which comprises about 40 per cent of your total electricity costs.
Some companies provide both the network and the electricity supply and in those cases you can get your total electricity costs on the same invoice.
I am moving house, what do I do with my electricity contract?
To get electricity at your new home, you will once again need two contracts, one with the company that owns the grid in the region where your new home is located and one with an electricity supplier from which you choose to buy your electricity.
The network contract is linked to your address so you can’t take it with you to your new address. You have to notify your current network operator in good time that you intend to terminate your contract as you will be moving and then sign a new contract with your new network operator.
If you are moving within the same power grid area, you merely need to notify your network operator of your new address.
Where do I find electricity suppliers?
You can start by doing a Google search. Use the word “elavtal” and that will give you a list of electricity providers. A lot of them have information in English.
We have also partnered up with a couple of electricity providers which you find here:
- Telge Energi* is the choice for those of you who are concerned about the environment. They only sell electricity that has the eco-label Good Environmental Choice (Bra Miljöval) by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Naturskyddsföreningen).
- Fortum* is the largest company on this list and the 3rd biggest provider of carbon dioxide free electricity in Europe.
- Skellefteå Kraft* is according to them the northern challenger that has the best customer service and always offers 100% renewable electricity at no extra cost.
- Stockholms elbolag* also claims to focus on the best customer service. They also are according to them the only Swedish electricity company that offers ALL its customers a single invoice. So electricity network and electricity trade in the same invoice. Finally they offer all customers a fixed price guarantee, which means that if a competitor is cheaper, they will offer you a cheaper price.
- Tibber* is an interesting option for those who like to have full control over their electricity usage on an hourly basis:-) They are Sweden’s first fully digital electricity company and say that they do not take any margins on the electricity price and so do not make any money from the customer’s consumption, as many other electricity companies do. You pay 49 SEK a month for their service in addition to the electricity that is consumed. This gives access to the smart technology, analyzes of consumption and functions that allow you to lower your electricity consumption. They have a lot of rather cool gadgets (that costs extra of course).
- Ellevio was brought to our notice by a reader who said that Ellevio offered a contract even though they had no Swedish personal number. And it turns out to be correct! If you do not have a Swedish personal number you can get a contract with Ellevio by providing your date of birth and adress where you reside.
Can I compare electricity suppliers?
Yes! And it is a good idea to do so as well. There are a number of comparison websites:
Elskling* compares electricity prices from all electricity trading companies in Sweden, which together offer more than 5,000 different electricity agreements.
Compricer* helps you find compare electricity contracts so you can find a cheaper option. They also offer the possibility to compare the energy source of your electricity.
Elpriskollen is an independent comparison service set up and managed by The Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate.
Elmarknad* helps you choose an electricity supplier based on your preferences. They also have campaigns that according to them are not available at other places. Make of that what you will but can be worth checking out.
Are there any electricity suppliers that have a lot of complaints?
The Swedish Consumer Energy Markets Bureau is an independent bureau which provides advice and guidance to consumers. All information and guidance is free of charge. They provide a list of electricity suppliers which have received a larger than normal amount of consumer complaints. The list is goes over the last 12 months of complaints.
I think I’m the victim of fraud, what can I do?
There are unfortunately cases where people have been sold contracts that are not what they seemed initially or that are way too expensive. So it is important to know that you have quite a few rights on your side:
You have the right to change your mind: When you shop remotely or outside the seller’s business premises, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal. When you buy a service such as an electricity contract, the withdrawal period is calculated from the day after you entered into the contract. The seller must give you information on how to cancel the purchase before entering into the agreement. If the seller has not given you enough information, the withdrawal period will be extended. Remember that your change of mind must happen in writing and to save a copy as proof.
It is not binding if it’s not in writing: Since 2018, it is required that consumers accept the company’s offer for an agreement in writing, after the telephone call has ended. Without the written acceptance, the agreement is not valid. There are exceptions, for example, if you are an existing customer and renew your agreement or sign an additional product. The requirement for writing includes agreements both in paper form and in electronic form, for example by e-mail or text message.
However – the written requirement applies when it is the company that calls the consumer. If you have called the electricity company yourself, there is no requirement for written acceptance.
