Consumption effect – what it means and how it affects your electricity bill?
Consumption impact is a feature of the Herrfors Stable+ contract that can decrease or increase your electricity bill depending on when you use electricity. On this page, we explain what consumption impact means and how it is reflected on your bill.
Stable+
Prices incl. VAT 25,5 %
The consumption effect lowers or raises your electricity bill
The consumption effect arises from when you use electricity. If you use electricity when the market price (spot) is low, your bill goes down slightly. If you consume the most during the expensive fifteen minutes, your bill rises slightly.
Last winter, majority of our Stable+ customers reached a consumption effect within +/– 1.5 c/kWh. You can check your own consumption effect in MyHerrfors.
Why choose an electricity contract with consumption impact?
An electricity contract with consumption impact gives you the opportunity to influence your electricity bill by shifting when you use electricity. You benefit from the stability of a fixed price while also taking advantage of lower spot electricity prices during cheaper hours.
When you use more electricity during lower-priced periods, such as at night or when electricity demand is lower, your total electricity bill will be lower. The contract rewards smart energy use and helps you use electricity more efficiently.
The final price is made up of three parts
The final electricity price for a Vakaa+ customer consists of three components:
- Basic monthly fee (€/month)
- Fixed energy price (c/kWh)
- Consumption impact (c/kWh)
If the consumption impact is negative, your electricity bill will be lower. If it is positive, your bill will be higher. The consumption impact is shown as a separate item on your electricity bill.
How you can influence the price of your electricity bill
- Follow market prices in the Herrfors app or on the website.
- Avoid expensive Spot hours – especially the morning and evening consumption peaks are often more expensive.
- Schedule e.g. heating, laundry and electric-car charging for cheaper times.
- You’ll see the effect directly on your next bill.
See your own consumption effect in MyHerrfors
Whatever contract you have – you can review your actual consumption effect in MyHerrfors on a monthly level.
Stable+
Stable+ is a good choice if you can time your electricity use – such as heating or electric-car charging – to cheaper times. You get the security of a fixed base price, but you also benefit when you consume at the right time.
Stable+
Prices incl. VAT 25,5 %
How exactly is the consumption effect calculated?
The consumption effect tells you whether you bought your electricity more cheaply or more expensively than average spot price in Finland for the month.
1. Your consumption-weighted spot price
Your consumption-weighted spot price shows the average spot price during the times you used electricity throughout the month. It is calculated by multiplying your electricity consumption by the spot price for each hour and dividing the total by your overall electricity consumption.
2. Finland’s average spot price is then subtracted from the result
Your consumption effect is calculated by subtracting Finland’s average spot price from your consumption-weighted spot price.
Consumption effect = your consumption-weighted spot price – Finland’s average spot price
3. Your billed electricity price = fixed price + consumption impact
Your final billed electricity price is calculated by adding the consumption impact to the fixed price in your Vakaa+ contract.
Billed electricity price = fixed price + consumption impact
If the consumption impact is negative, your electricity bill will be lower. If it is positive, your bill will be slightly higher. The consumption impact is shown as a separate item on your electricity bill.
Frequently asked questions
The consumption effect arises from when you use electricity relative to the month’s average spot price. Consuming during cheaper times lowers your bill; consuming during expensive times raises it slightly.
You can review your actual consumption effect in the MyHerrfors portal. Log in and go to your consumption data – there you’ll see the consumption effect itemised on a monthly level.
The variation depends on the consumption behaviour at your place of use. Last winter, 92 % of our Stable+ customers reached a consumption effect within +/– 1.5 c/kWh.
Yes. With the Spot+ contract, the timing of your electricity use affects the total cost of electricity, because the market price of electricity varies in 15-minute periods. However, the Spot+ contract does not calculate a separate consumption effect; instead, the price of electricity is determined directly by your actual quarter-hourly consumption and the prices in force.
If you have made a price fixing, the fixed portion of your consumption is priced at the agreed fixed price. Consumption outside the fixing is priced according to the prevailing spot price.
Yes. If you want a predictable price without variation, Stable is the best choice. If you want to benefit from electricity’s cheaper times, Stable+ or Spot+ suit you – especially if you can time your consumption flexibly.
Need help with your electricity contract?
If you’re not sure which contract suits you best, our customer service is happy to help. You can sign an electricity contract online, by phone, and also by visiting us in person. Welcome!
