Realtidspris

Realtidspris, or real-time price, is a term used in various markets to denote a price that is updated continuously to reflect current conditions rather than a fixed value agreed in advance. In energy markets, the real-time price typically refers to the price of electricity for the immediate future, determined by the wholesale market or balancing market as actual supply and demand unfold. It may be published at short intervals (for example every few minutes or hourly) and can differ from the day-ahead price that is set earlier for a given hour or period.

In practice, real-time pricing in electricity relies on bids and offers from market participants, including producers, traders, and suppliers, and can be influenced by factors such as weather, generation outages, fuel costs, and transmission constraints. The price serves as the marginal cost of balancing the system to meet actual demand. Prices can be positive or, in certain conditions, negative.

Real-time prices are used by some retailers and industrial clients in dynamic pricing contracts, where consumers pay the current wholesale price plus a margin. They are also used for demand response programs, which incentivize consumers to shift consumption when prices are high.

Critics note that real-time pricing can introduce price volatility and complexity for households and small businesses, while proponents argue it promotes efficient use of resources and aligns consumption with real-time supply.

See also: spot price, day-ahead price, balancing market, dynamic pricing.