Reactor is down – here electricity becomes more expensive

High water levels are pushing down electricity prices in northern Sweden. But in central Sweden, prices are expected to be higher this summer due to the shutdown of the Oskarshamn 3 nuclear power reactor. “We have low prices in line with last year,” says Johan Sigvardsson at Bixia.

The wet autumn and winter have meant that the water reservoirs in northern Sweden are well filled, which contributes to low and stable electricity prices during the summer months. The water surplus is putting pressure on prices there and they are predicted to land at 13–14 öre per kilowatt hour, compared to 18 öre last summer, according to an analysis from the electricity trading company Bixia.

In central Sweden, the electricity price instead looks set to rise to around 32 öre per kilowatt hour – 70 percent higher than in the summer of 2024. The reason is that maintenance of the Oskarshamn 3 nuclear power reactor continues until August 15, which reduces the plannable electricity production.