10 Ways to Save on Electricity in Finland

1. Time Your Usage to the Cheapest Hours

Spot electricity prices change every hour based on the Nord Pool market. The cheapest hours are typically 00–06 at night and 10–15 midday in summer (when solar production peaks). The most expensive hours are 07–09 morning and 17–19 evening on weekdays.

Run your dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer during cheap hours. Most modern appliances have a delay start function – set it the night before. Check today's cheapest hours →

2. Lower Your Room Temperature by 1–2°C

Each degree down saves about 5% on heating costs. Going from 22°C to 20°C can save €200–400 per year with electric heating. Wear a warm sweater instead of turning up the heat, and use a thermometer to find the lowest comfortable setting for each room.

3. Heat Water During Cheap Hours

The water heater (lämminvesivaraaja) is often the biggest single electricity consumer in a Finnish home. Use a timer or smart plug to heat water at night between 00–06. The insulated tank keeps water warm for hours – there's no loss in comfort.

Smart plugs like Shelly cost €15–30 and pay for themselves within weeks. You can control them with an app and even set them to activate only when spot prices drop below a threshold.

4. Charge Your EV at Night

Spot prices at night can be 80% cheaper than peak hours. Set your EV charger to start automatically at midnight. A full 60 kWh charge at 2 snt/kWh costs about €1.20 – the same charge at 15 snt/kWh costs €9. Most EVs and home chargers have built-in scheduling in their apps.

5. Wash Clothes at 40°C, Not 60°C

Heating water uses most of a washing machine's energy. Running at 40°C uses about 50% less electricity than 60°C. Modern detergents are designed to work effectively at lower temperatures. Always run full loads – a half-load uses nearly the same energy as a full one.

6. Skip the Dryer – Use a Drying Rack

A tumble dryer uses 2–4 kWh per cycle. At spot prices, that's €0.10–0.60 per load – adding up to €50–150 per year. A drying rack costs nothing to operate. If you must use a dryer, run it during the cheapest hours (night or midday in summer).

7. Eliminate Standby Power

Finnish homes waste 300–500 kWh per year on standby power. Your TV, game console, computer, and phone chargers all draw power even when "off." A power strip with a switch – one click turns everything off. Smart plugs with energy monitoring can show you the worst offenders.

8. Switch to LED Lighting

LED bulbs use 80% less energy than old incandescent bulbs. A single LED saves €5–10 per year compared to an old bulb. LEDs last 15,000–25,000 hours – that's 10+ years of use. Start by replacing the lights you use most: kitchen, living room, hallway.

9. Maintain Your Heat Pump

A dirty air filter reduces your heat pump's efficiency by up to 15%. Clean the filters every 2–3 months and book a professional service once a year. A well-maintained heat pump saves 30–50% on heating compared to direct electric heating. Service costs around €80–150 but pays for itself quickly.

10. Prepare for Winter Early

Winter electricity prices in Finland can be 2–3x higher than summer. Seal windows and doors before October – weatherstripping costs under €20 and can save tens of euros per winter. Consider locking in a fixed-price contract for winter. Set up price alerts to avoid expensive peak hours.

Stock up on warm blankets and layer up – cheaper than cranking up the heat. Read our Finnish winter preparation guide →

Total Potential Savings

Frequently Asked Questions