The most effective way to save money on electricity in Sweden is to shift consumption from expensive hours to cheap ones — without compromising on comfort. With smart control, the home handles this on autopilot. Here are the four investments with the best payback.
1. Smart Control of the Heat Pump — Greatest Savings
Heating accounts for 60–70% of a homeowner's total electricity consumption. An investment in smart heat pump control therefore gives the most bang for the buck.
Solutions:
- Nibe Uplink / Thermia Online: Most modern heat pumps have built-in smart control. Activate "Smart Price Adaption" — the pump automatically preheats the house when electricity is cheap and turns down at night.
- Ngenic Tune: A third-party control unit (approx. 2,000 SEK + installation) that is added to older heat pumps without a smart function. Typically saves 10–25% of the heating cost.
Savings: 500–2,000 SEK/year depending on the house and climate zone.
2. Smart Water Heater — Simple Installation, Big Effect
An average water heater (200L) draws 5–8 kWh per day. If it heats water at 17:00–19:00 instead of 01:00–03:00, you pay 5–10 times more.
Solution: Install a smart relay (Plejd DCL-01, Shelly Plus 1PM) on the heater. Cost: 500–1,500 SEK materials + 1–2 h electrician. The relay automatically schedules heating for the night.
Savings: 150–400 SEK/month with an hourly price contract.
3. Load Balancing on the EV Charger — Reduces the Grid Fee
With power tariffs (effekttariffer), you now pay for your highest power peak during the month. If you run the oven, washing machine, and EV charger at exactly the same time, the peak power can land at 15–20 kW — and yield an extra grid fee of 800–1,100 SEK that month.
A smart EV charger with dynamic load balancing (Zaptec Go, Easee Charge Lite, Garo Entity Compact) measures the house's total consumption via a CT sensor and automatically reduces the charging power when other appliances draw heavily.
Savings: 200–500 SEK/month on the grid fee.
4. Automatic Lighting Control — Reduces Unnecessary Consumption
Facade and garden lighting forgotten on costs money. With Plejd or Wiser systems, you can:
- Control lighting by astronomical time (sunrise/sunset) — works without you having to adjust anything for summer and winter time
- Set schedules and scenes that automatically turn off all light after midnight
- Remote control and see consumption per circuit in the app
Installation Cost: 3,000–8,000 SEK depending on the number of switches. The ROT deduction (30%) applies.
Summary — Order of Priority
| Action | Investment (net with ROT) | Savings/Year | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart heat pump control | 1,400–3,500 SEK | 500–2,000 SEK | 1–2 years |
| Smart water heater | 1,000–3,000 SEK | 1,800–4,800 SEK | 6–18 months |
| Load balancing EV charger | Included in charger | 2,400–6,000 SEK | At installation |
| Smart lighting (Plejd) | 2,100–5,600 SEK | 500–1,500 SEK | 2–5 years |
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Our electricians will help you choose and install the right solution based on your house and your contract. The ROT deduction (30%) applies to the installation cost. Contact us for a free consultation meeting.
