+ SAKDATA / BIDDING ZONE SE4

Southern Sweden’s
extra electricity bill.

Sweden introduced four electricity bidding zones in 2011. Since then, the same electricity use has often cost more in SE4, which includes Skåne and Blekinge, than in SE3, which includes Stockholm. We calculate the difference for a model home and examine the decisions behind the boundaries.

Why is the boundary here?

SE4 / SE3NOV 2011 — APR 2026

Since 1 November 2011Monthly data

Modelled extra cost for a comparison home

21,164SEK

SE4 compared with SE3

20 000 kWh/year · more electricity in winter · including 25% VAT

Through 30 April 2026

Identical consumption in both zones. Spot-price difference in nominal kronor.

Method ↗

Your annual consumptionkWh/yearCompare SE4 withConsumption during the yearInclude 25% VAT

Show throughApril 2026

The counter stops at the last month with price data. Playback shows the historical series, not a real-time measurement. Grid charges, energy tax, retailer margins and electricity support are excluded.

01 / The bill

How much more each year?

Each bar shows the modelled extra cost in SE4 for your chosen consumption. Periods with lower SE4 prices reduce the total.

Select a year to inspect

2026 · 4/12 monthsExtra cost: 1,290 SEKCumulative: 21,164 SEK

* Partial year. 2011 covers November–December. The last year includes only months with data. Every value follows your choices above.

Download CSV

Calculations using Swedish Energy Agency statistics; original prices from Nord Pool. ^[1]

Show monthly data and costs

öre/kWh, excluding VAT. SEK: including VAT.
Month	SE1	SE2	SE3	SE4	Assumed consumption kWh	Extra cost SEK	Cumulative SEK
2011-11	38.00	38.00	39.75	45.57	2,000	145.60	145.60
2011-12	29.97	29.97	29.97	31.09	2,600	36.23	181.83
2012-01	32.86	32.86	33.80	33.85	2,800	1.85	183.68
2012-02	42.71	42.71	44.84	46.56	2,400	51.54	235.22
2012-03	25.14	25.77	25.77	26.40	2,400	18.75	253.97
2012-04	27.93	27.93	27.93	29.96	2,000	50.72	304.70
2012-05	26.34	26.34	26.96	28.73	1,200	26.57	331.26
2012-06	23.32	23.32	24.14	31.34	800	72.02	403.28
2012-07	11.50	11.50	11.50	16.66	600	38.70	441.98
2012-08	21.51	21.51	22.36	23.02	600	4.92	446.90
2012-09	24.76	24.76	25.02	25.48	1,000	5.70	452.60
2012-10	29.88	29.88	29.88	29.89	1,600	0.24	452.84
2012-11	29.03	29.03	29.03	29.06	2,000	0.70	453.54
2012-12	37.80	37.80	37.94	38.17	2,600	7.57	461.11
2013-01	35.73	35.73	36.15	36.42	2,800	9.33	470.44
2013-02	33.59	33.59	33.59	33.70	2,400	3.22	473.66
2013-03	37.13	37.13	37.13	37.13	2,400	-0.00	473.66
2013-04	36.97	36.97	36.97	37.07	2,000	2.45	476.11
2013-05	31.59	31.59	31.59	31.67	1,200	1.26	477.37
2013-06	29.63	29.64	29.63	29.84	800	2.00	479.37
2013-07	29.61	29.61	29.61	30.27	600	4.95	484.32
2013-08	35.12	35.12	35.12	35.13	600	0.06	484.38
2013-09	38.72	38.72	39.66	39.86	1,000	2.47	486.85
2013-10	36.16	36.16	36.92	36.95	1,600	0.48	487.33
2013-11	32.81	32.81	33.12	35.57	2,000	61.04	548.36
2013-12	29.20	29.20	29.46	30.48	2,600	33.27	581.63
2014-01	29.02	29.02	29.43	29.44	2,800	0.07	581.70
2014-02	26.72	26.72	26.72	27.77	2,400	31.56	613.26
2014-03	23.53	23.53	23.53	24.24	2,400	21.30	634.56
2014-04	24.56	24.56	24.56	24.58	2,000	0.62	635.19
2014-05	31.71	31.71	31.71	31.71	1,200	0.07	635.26
2014-06	28.61	28.61	29.35	29.45	800	0.98	636.24
2014-07	27.47	27.47	27.47	27.56	600	0.67	636.92
2014-08	31.74	31.74	31.75	31.80	600	0.41	637.33
2014-09	33.53	33.53	33.53	33.64	1,000	1.35	638.68
2014-10	28.66	28.65	28.66	28.66	1,600	0.00	638.68
2014-11	27.86	27.86	28.33	28.47	2,000	3.52	642.21
2014-12	29.60	29.60	30.13	31.09	2,600	31.30	673.50
2015-01	28.18	28.18	28.53	28.70	2,800	6.06	679.56
2015-02	26.67	26.67	28.07	29.51	2,400	43.31	722.87
2015-03	23.31	23.31	23.94	24.51	2,400	17.25	740.12
2015-04	23.55	23.55	23.82	24.00	2,000	4.53	744.64
2015-05	20.81	20.81	20.94	21.68	1,200	11.10	755.74
2015-06	13.79	13.79	14.18	18.69	800	45.10	800.84
2015-07	8.50	8.50	8.50	8.61	600	0.83	801.67
2015-08	13.71	13.71	15.87	15.87	600	0.00	801.67
2015-09	19.44	19.58	19.65	20.67	1,000	12.76	814.44
2015-10	20.91	20.91	22.09	23.14	1,600	20.96	835.40
2015-11	22.46	22.46	24.01	24.33	2,000	8.02	843.42
2015-12	16.96	16.96	18.18	18.24	2,600	1.98	845.40
2016-01	26.18	26.18	28.77	28.78	2,800	0.32	845.72
2016-02	18.04	18.04	18.30	18.70	2,400	12.12	857.84
2016-03	20.07	20.07	20.07	20.74	2,400	20.13	877.97
2016-04	20.31	20.31	20.32	20.41	2,000	2.40	880.37
2016-05	21.98	21.98	21.98	22.02	1,200	0.63	881.00
2016-06	31.46	31.46	31.48	31.50	800	0.18	881.18
2016-07	27.42	27.42	27.42	27.49	600	0.58	881.76
2016-08	28.93	28.93	28.94	28.95	600	0.10	881.86
2016-09	27.76	27.76	27.94	28.32	1,000	4.73	886.59
2016-10	35.11	35.11	35.11	35.55	1,600	8.68	895.27
2016-11	40.41	40.41	40.41	40.52	2,000	2.73	897.99
2016-12	32.16	32.16	32.23	33.36	2,600	36.48	934.47
2017-01	30.16	30.16	30.37	32.33	2,800	68.46	1,002.93
2017-02	31.32	31.32	31.36	32.39	2,400	31.02	1,033.95
2017-03	28.98	28.98	28.98	29.16	2,400	5.61	1,039.56
2017-04	27.69	27.69	27.69	28.09	2,000	10.07	1,049.63
2017-05	28.67	28.67	28.70	28.81	1,200	1.75	1,051.39
2017-06	26.39	26.39	26.39	27.34	800	9.47	1,060.86
2017-07	29.44	29.44	29.59	29.63	600	0.34	1,061.20
2017-08	31.81	31.81	32.11	32.39	600	2.05	1,063.24
2017-09	33.40	33.40	34.74	35.19	1,000	5.63	1,068.87
2017-10	27.78	27.78	29.37	30.92	1,600	31.04	1,099.91
2017-11	31.47	31.47	31.47	34.06	2,000	64.80	1,164.71
2017-12	29.65	29.65	30.45	31.85	2,600	45.73	1,210.44
2018-01	31.70	31.70	31.81	32.29	2,800	16.85	1,227.29
2018-02	39.28	39.28	39.55	40.40	2,400	25.48	1,252.77
2018-03	45.55	45.55	45.55	45.67	2,400	3.58	1,256.35
2018-04	40.33	40.33	40.33	40.38	2,000	1.24	1,257.60
2018-05	33.80	33.80	33.85	36.95	1,200	46.49	1,304.09
2018-06	45.45	45.45	45.45	47.92	800	24.72	1,328.81
2018-07	54.03	54.03	54.09	54.92	600	6.25	1,335.05
2018-08	56.19	56.19	57.03	58.39	600	10.22	1,345.27
2018-09	51.85	51.85	51.99	52.81	1,000	10.30	1,355.57
2018-10	45.68	45.68	45.68	53.15	1,600	149.50	1,505.07
2018-11	49.23	49.23	51.34	55.54	2,000	105.03	1,610.09
2018-12	52.00	52.00	52.26	52.93	2,600	21.82	1,631.91
2019-01	54.92	54.92	55.80	56.36	2,800	19.46	1,651.37
2019-02	47.36	47.36	47.74	48.31	2,400	17.18	1,668.55
2019-03	41.32	41.32	41.38	41.53	2,400	4.62	1,673.17
2019-04	41.59	41.59	41.60	41.84	2,000	6.05	1,679.21
2019-05	37.40	37.40	37.40	38.71	1,200	19.64	1,698.86
2019-06	26.00	26.00	26.00	29.44	800	34.45	1,733.31
2019-07	36.87	36.87	37.03	39.42	600	17.92	1,751.22
2019-08	39.57	39.57	39.71	41.46	600	13.13	1,764.35
2019-09	36.47	36.47	37.18	39.12	1,000	24.30	1,788.66
2019-10	39.27	39.27	40.73	45.47	1,600	94.80	1,883.46
2019-11	43.95	43.95	44.56	45.10	2,000	13.50	1,896.96
2019-12	36.84	36.84	37.76	38.48	2,600	23.40	1,920.36
2020-01	24.53	24.53	25.02	27.82	2,800	97.93	2,018.29
2020-02	15.23	15.23	19.46	19.64	2,400	5.43	2,023.72
2020-03	9.73	9.73	14.96	17.25	2,400	68.61	2,092.33
2020-04	5.58	5.58	9.80	14.97	2,000	129.15	2,221.48
2020-05	10.09	10.09	13.54	14.91	1,200	20.49	2,241.97
2020-06	10.35	10.35	24.89	25.40	800	5.05	2,247.02
2020-07	8.82	8.82	9.26	23.71	600	108.33	2,355.35
2020-08	18.05	18.06	34.71	41.67	600	52.18	2,407.52
2020-09	31.35	31.35	34.85	37.09	1,000	28.05	2,435.57
2020-10	21.44	21.44	23.02	27.34	1,600	86.36	2,521.93
2020-11	6.61	6.61	24.13	35.35	2,000	280.45	2,802.38
2020-12	18.42	18.42	31.58	38.03	2,600	209.82	3,012.20
2021-01	45.06	45.06	49.05	50.22	2,800	40.91	3,053.12
2021-02	43.65	43.65	53.63	54.38	2,400	22.77	3,075.89
2021-03	25.45	25.45	36.78	45.90	2,400	273.42	3,349.31
2021-04	26.87	26.79	33.68	43.17	2,000	237.10	3,586.41
2021-05	38.95	38.95	43.50	48.47	1,200	74.52	3,660.93
2021-06	34.81	34.81	40.30	73.94	800	336.40	3,997.33
2021-07	51.95	52.77	59.05	69.36	600	77.35	4,074.68
2021-08	58.81	58.81	67.11	85.53	600	138.15	4,212.83
2021-09	56.47	56.47	91.84	122.68	1,000	385.60	4,598.43
2021-10	25.83	25.83	64.75	86.88	1,600	442.60	5,041.03
2021-11	43.89	43.89	83.52	112.56	2,000	725.93	5,766.95
2021-12	66.69	66.69	180.74	187.39	2,600	215.90	5,982.85
2022-01	28.99	28.99	104.33	109.37	2,800	176.19	6,159.04
2022-02	25.79	25.79	77.48	83.86	2,400	191.37	6,350.41
2022-03	22.92	22.92	130.33	154.54	2,400	726.21	7,076.62
2022-04	52.91	53.65	89.22	113.85	2,000	615.95	7,692.57
2022-05	57.88	57.88	102.86	139.14	1,200	544.13	8,236.69
2022-06	51.11	51.11	126.31	180.37	800	540.62	8,777.31
2022-07	22.46	22.46	86.61	122.52	600	269.27	9,046.58
2022-08	18.28	51.86	223.05	304.99	600	614.56	9,661.14
2022-09	100.72	101.12	228.63	241.67	1,000	162.91	9,824.05
2022-10	50.49	51.32	80.65	81.26	1,600	12.34	9,836.39
2022-11	122.07	122.07	130.88	134.84	2,000	98.90	9,935.29
2022-12	205.95	206.03	269.02	271.45	2,600	78.94	10,014.23
2023-01	70.38	70.38	92.58	104.43	2,800	414.64	10,428.88
2023-02	52.03	52.03	82.54	102.79	2,400	607.59	11,036.47
2023-03	56.49	56.49	80.62	91.79	2,400	334.98	11,371.45
2023-04	66.47	66.47	68.70	73.87	2,000	129.18	11,500.62
2023-05	27.77	27.84	39.02	73.50	1,200	517.23	12,017.85
2023-06	51.61	51.61	53.06	103.39	800	503.39	12,521.24
2023-07	37.40	37.40	37.65	41.76	600	30.79	12,552.04
2023-08	23.76	23.76	36.96	49.54	600	94.34	12,646.38
2023-09	10.89	10.89	24.32	51.33	1,000	337.63	12,984.00
2023-10	17.58	17.58	33.06	35.95	1,600	57.70	13,041.70
2023-11	60.90	60.90	82.13	84.72	2,000	64.60	13,106.30
2023-12	72.60	72.60	79.18	80.24	2,600	34.71	13,141.01
2024-01	61.08	61.20	80.30	84.02	2,800	130.45	13,271.46
2024-02	44.79	44.94	50.34	55.42	2,400	152.16	13,423.62
2024-03	56.61	56.61	59.47	63.36	2,400	116.70	13,540.32
2024-04	50.47	50.79	56.31	62.45	2,000	153.42	13,693.74
2024-05	17.64	17.64	23.71	50.58	1,200	402.96	14,096.70
2024-06	24.04	24.04	27.27	62.70	800	354.36	14,451.06
2024-07	20.55	20.49	20.72	43.34	600	169.63	14,620.69
2024-08	8.86	8.51	8.54	45.93	600	280.43	14,901.12
2024-09	9.57	10.89	16.44	30.67	1,000	177.93	15,079.05
2024-10	12.60	13.52	22.97	30.15	1,600	143.60	15,222.65
2024-11	24.96	18.09	66.95	84.65	2,000	442.35	15,665.00
2024-12	12.59	11.21	58.25	69.35	2,600	360.56	16,025.55
2025-01	23.76	24.31	63.44	76.11	2,800	443.24	16,468.79
2025-02	12.88	14.49	77.05	103.87	2,400	804.66	17,273.45
2025-03	15.80	10.95	50.80	60.46	2,400	289.80	17,563.25
2025-04	14.39	14.21	37.61	58.35	2,000	518.45	18,081.70
2025-05	14.09	15.09	42.94	60.01	1,200	256.02	18,337.72
2025-06	3.05	4.99	22.79	40.70	800	179.16	18,516.88
2025-07	13.59	15.95	37.01	46.37	600	70.15	18,587.03
2025-08	23.74	23.05	48.56	73.23	600	185.00	18,772.03
2025-09	17.28	16.32	52.33	70.60	1,000	228.41	19,000.45
2025-10	14.21	13.47	62.81	71.25	1,600	168.86	19,169.31
2025-11	36.97	34.33	69.65	80.70	2,000	276.25	19,445.56
2025-12	31.62	32.07	51.68	64.88	2,600	429.16	19,874.72
2026-01	93.91	94.16	108.45	112.99	2,800	159.01	20,033.72
2026-02	98.75	98.46	110.23	113.28	2,400	91.53	20,125.25
2026-03	22.75	21.13	58.66	84.58	2,400	777.54	20,902.79
2026-04	26.09	26.85	56.08	66.55	2,000	261.60	21,164.39

02 / The boundaries

Why is the boundary here?

A grid constraint calls for action. It does not, by itself, determine which households should pay more for electricity.

The boundary between SE3 and SE4 follows grid section 4. In November 2025, Svenska kraftnät said it is a bottleneck only in specific operating conditions and wants to assess whether those conditions can be managed without this boundary. ^[4]

The government’s ongoing commission assesses one, two or four bidding zones with different boundaries, plus possible export zones. The report is due on 29 January 2027. The diagrams below show the principles; no new configuration has been adopted. ^[6]

The 2025 European review also assessed other maps. It recommended keeping the current configuration because the four alternatives produced lower modelled economic welfare. Svenska kraftnät also identified shortcomings in the hydropower modelling. ^[5]

A map performing best in a model does not settle who should bear its costs.

01Current zones

SE1

Section 1

SE2

Section 2

SE3

Section 4

SE4

In place since 2011

02One zone

All Sweden

Alternatives being assessed

03Two zones

Northern Sweden

Section 2

Southern Sweden

Alternatives being assessed

04Four, new boundary

SE1

Section 1

SE2

Section 2

South

Section 3

East

Alternatives being assessed

Schematic zones, not geographical boundaries. See Svenska kraftnät’s geographical maps ↗

03 / THE DECISION

Higher prices in the south were anticipated

The European Commission described the consequence in 2010. It also expected new investment to bring prices closer together over time.

On 14 April 2010, the European Commission made Svenska kraftnät’s commitments binding. Sweden had restricted exports to manage internal grid constraints. The Commission suspected discrimination against foreign customers. ^[3]

Paragraph 58 anticipated lower prices in the north and higher prices in the south in the short term. The Commission expected investment signals to lead to convergence over time. Sweden introduced four bidding zones on 1 November 2011. ^[3] ^[10]

The government should explain how long households in the south are expected to bear this recurring price difference.

04 / Economic welfare

Economic welfare for whom?

A larger total does not mean households paying more receive a share of the gains. The distribution of costs and benefits deserves scrutiny.

The 2025 bidding-zone review adds consumer surplus, producer surplus and congestion revenue, then deducts remedial-action costs. It covers the modelled European market and Nordic remedial-action costs, extending beyond the finances of Swedish households. ^[7]

A 2026 Nordic study illustrates the distinction. In a scenario with reduced interconnector availability, Nordic consumers benefit from lower prices. Producers lose more and aggregate welfare falls. This is a simulation for 2035, not an estimate of removing SE4. ^[8]

The price difference affects a substantial part of southern Sweden. Skåne and Blekinge alone had about 1.59 million residents in 2025. SE4 also covers other southern areas. Residents are not the same as electricity customers, and household consumption varies. ^[9]

The counter is not a measure of Svenska kraftnät’s congestion revenue. That revenue depends on both price differences and market flows and is subject to rules governing its use. ^[11]

05 / METHOD AND SOURCES

How we calculate

Consumption × price difference × VAT

Assumptions and limits

For each month, assumed consumption is multiplied by the difference between the SE4 monthly average spot price and the comparison zone. Prices in öre per kWh are divided by 100. Including VAT multiplies the result by 1.25. All monthly costs are added, including negative differences.

The winter profile follows the Swedish Energy Markets Bureau’s example for 20,000 kWh per year. Both zones use the same profile, scaled to your annual consumption. The flat profile allocates one twelfth to each month. ^[2]

Why identical consumption? We compare a home in SE4 with the cost of the same electricity use at the other zone’s spot price. Climate, floor area and heating affect actual consumption. Northern homes may use more electricity; that difference is not part of this price comparison. Enter your own consumption for a more relevant model.

This estimates the spot-price component, not a measured bill. Monthly variable contracts may include consumption-profile costs and retailer margins that differ from a simple spot average. Hourly or quarter-hourly contracts require consumption for each price interval.

Grid charges, energy tax, retailer margins and electricity support are excluded. Amounts are in nominal kronor. The calculation measures neither a special tax nor prices Sweden would have had without bidding zones.

Monthly shares: 14 % · 12 % · 12 % · 10 % · 6 % · 4 % · 3 % · 3 % · 5 % · 8 % · 10 % · 13 % (jan–dec).

Price data and updates

Calculations using Swedish Energy Agency statistics; original prices from Nord Pool. ^[1] ^[12]

Source extract retrieved: 2026-10-14. Table 6.10, November 2011 to April 2026. All 174 months contain SE1–SE4 prices. Later months have not been filled with estimates.

Historical playback spreads each monthly amount evenly over animation steps. It does not show observed daily costs. The value may fall when SE4 is cheaper.

Southern Sweden’sextra electricity bill.

Modelled extra cost for a comparison home

How much more each year?

Why is the boundary here?

Higher prices in the south were anticipated

Economic welfare for whom?

How we calculate

Sources

Southern Sweden’s
extra electricity bill.