Electricity & gas in Sweden: your rights

The market

You choose your electricity retailer freely; the grid company is fixed by where you live. Gas is only available along the west coast network (33 municipalities) and in a separate Stockholm network, where today only one retailer (Driva Gas AB) sells gas.

Energy regulator

Energimarknadsinspektionen (Ei)

Dispute resolution

Allmänna reklamationsnämnden (ARN) · small fee

Complain to the company first; it should reply within about four weeks. If it says no or doesn't answer, report to ARN within one year of your first complaint. Filing costs 150 kr. Free advice: Konsumenternas Energimarknadsbyrå.

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Elpriskollen

Switching supplier

Switching is free. The new retailer handles the switch and can take over 14 days after notifying the grid company; by law a switch must be possible within three weeks. Only early exit from a fixed-price contract may cost a fee, limited to the retailer's direct loss.

Price rises

Since 1 January 2026 a retailer must notify consumers of changes to an open-ended contract, including price, in a separate message at least two months in advance, giving the reasons and your right to terminate.

Regulated price

There is no regulated price. If you don't choose a contract, your grid company assigns a retailer (anvisat avtal) on reasonable terms, with at most 14 days' notice; it is often more expensive, so switch as soon as possible.

Help if money is tight

There is no social electricity tariff. Before power is cut for non-payment, the company must notify the municipal social services, which can take over responsibility for the debt.

Protection against cut-off

The breach must be significant (e.g. over 1,000 kr or two unpaid bills). You get at least 14 days to pay, then a formally served demand giving three more weeks, and social services are notified. No cut-off if the debt is disputed or if it risks serious injury or damage.

If your supplier goes bust

If you have no supply contract, for example because your retailer stops delivering, your grid company must assign you a retailer that supplies on reasonable terms and tell you which one. You can switch away at any time.

Power cut

Contact your grid company about power cuts. An outage may never exceed 24 hours unless beyond the company's control. For 12–24 hours you get 12.5% of your annual grid cost (minimum 2% of the price base amount), plus 25% per extra 24 hours, up to 300%.

Cooling-off period

You have 14 days to withdraw from a contract made online, by phone or at your door. If the seller called you, the contract is only valid once you confirm it in writing after the call.

Smart meter

Since 1 January 2025 all meters must meet seven function requirements, including quarter-hour metering. You have the right to have your use measured per quarter hour at no extra cost.

Solar panels

Micro-producers (up to 43.5 kW) sell surplus to a retailer; a retailer receiving your surplus must pay reasonable compensation even without a contract. The grid company pays a grid-benefit compensation. No energy tax below 500 kW.

Free energy advice

Municipal energy and climate advisers, backed by the Swedish Energy Agency, give free, impartial advice on saving energy, heating and solar power. Konsumenternas Energimarknadsbyrå gives free guidance on contracts and disputes.

Fixed and dynamic contracts

Since 1 June 2023, electricity retailers with more than 200,000 customers must be able to offer an hourly-price or other dynamic contract. Before you sign, they must explain its opportunities, costs and risks, and you need a meter with time-resolved metering.

• An existing contract may not be changed into a dynamic one without information and your consent. (energimarknadsbyran.se)
• From 1 January 2027 the new Elmarknadslag (2026:1281) applies: suppliers with more than 200,000 customers must offer both a dynamic-price contract and a contract with a fixed term and fixed price (chapter 12, sections 20–21). (riksdagen.se)

Energy sharing and communities

From 1 January 2027 the new Elmarknadslag (2026:1281) allows energy sharing: renewable electricity, for example from solar panels on one property, can be used on another property, free of charge or for payment.

• The rules are in chapter 14 of the law. Whoever passes on shared electricity may not have energy sharing as their main commercial or professional activity; the government or an authority may require participants to register. (riksdagen.se)

Heating without the gas grid

District heating falls under the Fjärrvärmelagen, supervised by Energimarknadsinspektionen (Ei). Prices are not regulated: the company sets its own price model. Changes to your contract terms must be announced in writing at least two months in advance.

• You can ask the company to negotiate the district heating price or your agreed capacity; the company must give the reasons for the term in question. (ei.se)
• If negotiation fails, apply for mediation at Fjärrvärmenämnden within three weeks of being told it has ended. The board cannot make binding decisions and does not judge whether the price is reasonable. (energimyndigheten.se)

Grants for heat pumps and insulation

Bidrag för energieffektivisering i småhus (Villaeffekten) supports heat pumps, district heating connection, heat-recovery ventilation, insulation and windows. You apply to Boverket; the county administrative board (Länsstyrelsen) handles it. It covers 30% of material costs, at most 60,000 kr per house.

• Only private owners who live permanently in the house by the time of payment can apply. The house must be a detached, semi-detached or terraced house built before 1990 and not connected to district heating. (lansstyrelsen.se)
• Work started from 17 October 2025 to 31 August 2026: apply by 28 February 2027. Work started from 1 September 2026: apply within six months of starting, and by 1 June 2030 at the latest. (lansstyrelsen.se)
• ROT-avdrag is a tax reduction on labour costs (not materials) for repairs and renovation, at most 50,000 kr per person per year, claimed through Skatteverket. (skatteverket.se)

Charging an electric car at home

Since 29 May 2026, tenants and tenant-owners (bostadsrättshavare) have in certain cases the right to have a charging point installed at their own parking space, at their own expense. The landlord or association can refuse only in certain circumstances.

• Skattereduktion för grön teknik: 50% of labour and material for installing a charging point at a home you own, at most 50,000 kr per person per year. It is deducted directly on the installer's invoice. (skatteverket.se)

Back-billing and estimated bills

Your bill should be based on measured use. The company may estimate only if readings are missing or wrong. It can back-bill for all use as long as the claim is not time-barred (three years), unless you paid in good faith an invoice that looked final.

• When the real readings arrive after estimated billing, you have the right to a free payment plan for the balance, and to a 15% price reduction if estimated billing went on for more than eight months (standard contract terms). (energimarknadsbyran.se)

Energy costs for tenants

If electricity is included in your rent or collectively metered, you are not an electricity customer: consumer protection for electricity contracts does not apply and you cannot switch supplier yourself. The price should follow your agreement with whoever bills you.

• What a landlord charges for electricity is not regulated by the Electricity Act, so Ei cannot act. Disputes can go to Hyresnämnden or ARN. (konsumentforum.ei.se)

Grid connection

The grid company must connect you within a reasonable time. The Electricity Act sets two years from your request as the limit unless longer is necessary, but Ei stresses that a much shorter time is often reasonable. The connection fee must be reasonable.

• Ei can review the connection fee, the time taken, extra costs and other terms free of charge. Your request must reach Ei within two years of the binding offer (or the invoice date). (ei.se)

Consumer organisation

Konsumenternas Energimarknadsbyrå