Orkuverð

Orkuverð is the price paid for electricity or energy, typically quoted per kilowatt-hour (kWh) or per megawatt-hour (MWh). For households and businesses, the total bill usually consists of the energy price itself plus charges for transmission and distribution, and may include taxes and levies. Some suppliers offer fixed contracts, while others use variable tariffs; many bills also include a fixed monthly charge regardless of consumption.

In Iceland, electricity is largely generated from renewable sources, primarily hydro and geothermal. This often results in relatively low marginal generation costs and a degree of price stability compared with fossil-fuel–based systems. Nevertheless, the end-user price can vary due to factors such as network tariffs (the cost of transporting electricity), regulatory policies, and general economic conditions. The wholesale price—the price at which electricity is bought and sold on the market—responds to supply and demand, while retail prices to consumers are shaped by supplier contracts, competition, and policy decisions.

Understanding orkuverð is important for households, businesses, and policymakers. It influences household living costs, industrial competitiveness, and energy budgeting. Prices may exhibit seasonal variation and occasional volatility linked to water reservoir levels, geothermal resource availability, or exchange rate movements affecting imported inputs. Accurate pricing information is routinely published by energy authorities and statistical agencies and is used in planning and economic analysis.