Energy fee
The energy fee is the per-kWh part of the electricity contract (c/kWh). In spot contracts it is the margin plus the hourly market price; in fixed contracts it is locked for the whole term.
The total electricity bill has three parts: energy fee (retailer), transfer fee (grid company) and electricity tax. The energy fee is the only one you can tender for — this is why comparison sites like Verrokit exist.
The energy fee is shown in two forms: in spot contracts it is a margin (e.g. 0.48 c/kWh) added to the hourly Nord Pool price; in fixed contracts it is a locked c/kWh price (e.g. 9.79 c/kWh) that does not change during the term.
Your actual bill is calculated: consumption (kWh) × energy fee (c/kWh) / 100 = € of energy. In spot contracts each hour has a different price which are summed; in fixed contracts every hour has the same price.
Energy fee in spot vs fixed contracts
In a spot contract the energy fee is variable: market price (Nord Pool FI, c/kWh) + provider's margin (0.20–0.60 c/kWh). Hourly consumption (kWh) × hourly combined price gives the hour's euro amount.
In a fixed-price contract the energy fee is one locked number, e.g. 9.79 c/kWh. The same for every hour throughout the contract term.
Practical effect: on spot the same 100 kWh can cost 2–30 € per month depending on the hours; in fixed the same consumption always costs exactly 9.79 €.
How to compare energy fees correctly
Do not look at the c/kWh number alone — compare total monthly cost at your annual consumption. A low energy fee may be offset by a high basic fee: e.g. 7.89 c/kWh + 7.95 €/mo can be more expensive than 8.29 c/kWh + 3.95 €/mo when annual consumption is below 5,000 kWh.
Verrokit sorts products automatically by total monthly cost at your annual consumption — showing the correct order instantly.
Factors affecting the energy fee
The price depends on: contract type (spot vs fixed vs hybrid), contract term (12 months typically cheapest, 36 months carries the highest risk margin), intro period (fee-free months significantly lower effective first-year cost), guarantee of origin (adds 0.1–0.8 c/kWh), and general market conditions (crises like 2022 raise all contracts' energy fees).
Frequently asked questions
What does the energy fee actually cover?
The part of the bill paid to the retailer — covering the cost of produced electricity and the retailer's margin. The energy fee does not include the grid company's transfer fee or the state's electricity tax; those appear on separate bill lines.
Can the energy fee change mid-contract?
Depends on contract type. In spot it varies hourly with the market. In a fixed-term fixed-price contract it is locked and cannot change. In an open-ended contract the retailer may change the price with 30-day notice.
What share of the electricity bill is the energy fee?
Typically 40–55 % of the total bill. The rest goes to transfer (grid company) and electricity tax (state). Only the energy fee is open to tendering.