Effektavgiften

Effektavgiften, often translated as "capacity charge" or "demand charge" in English, is a component of electricity pricing that aims to recover the costs associated with providing a certain level of power capacity to consumers, rather than just the amount of energy consumed. This charge is particularly relevant in contexts where the electricity grid must be able to meet peak demand, even if that demand is only sustained for short periods.

The underlying principle is that the infrastructure required to deliver electricity, such as power plants, transmission lines, and distribution networks, must be sized to handle the maximum possible load. These investments represent a significant cost for electricity providers. If pricing were solely based on the kilowatt-hours consumed, those who use electricity consistently at lower levels might not contribute sufficiently to the upkeep of a system that must be ready to supply high power at any moment.

Effektavgiften addresses this by introducing a charge that reflects a consumer's peak power demand over a given period, often a month. This encourages users, particularly industrial and large commercial customers with significant power needs, to manage their electricity consumption more efficiently and to avoid simultaneous use of high-power equipment. By incentivizing load leveling, effektavgiften can help reduce the need for expensive peak-generating capacity and contribute to a more stable and cost-effective electricity grid for all users. The specific calculation and application of effektavgiften can vary by region and electricity provider.