Since October 1, 2025, the quarter price applies to the electricity market, a change that affects Tesla owners directly by making the charging cost more time-specific and variable. Quarter price means that the electricity price is adjusted every 15 minutes instead of every hour, which creates both challenges and opportunities for the owner of an electric car.
Since Teslas are often charged at home and draw a lot of electricity per charge, choosing the right time to charge becomes more important than ever. With a variable electricity contract, the cost of a charge can vary greatly depending on exactly which quarter you charge during, and the difference between the most expensive and cheapest quarter can in some cases exceed 100%.
For Tesla owners, this means that you need to be more strategic with your electricity consumption. Anyone who adjusts their charging according to low-price quarters can reduce their electricity costs considerably, but this requires the right electricity contract, access to price data and some technical understanding.
What does quartz price mean and why does it affect Tesla charging?
Quarter price means that the electricity price is updated every 15 minutes instead of every hour, something that affects Tesla owners because electric car charging is an energy-intensive and time-sensitive process.
Since 1 October 2025, the electricity market in Sweden and the EU switched to this more detailed pricing, where the price for electricity is set in 96 different intervals per day via the Nord Pool electricity exchange.
A normal Tesla charge draws between 10 and 20 kWh. With quarter price, the price between two quarter hours can differ by more than 100%. This means that a charge that takes place during an expensive quarter can cost twice as much as if it is scheduled for a low-cost quarter later in the day.
Electric car charging thus becomes more dynamic and price volatile, something that requires Tesla owners to become more proactive in their charging pattern.
How does the quarter price differ from the hourly price?
Quarter pricing provides more detailed and accurate pricing than hourly pricing, reflecting real-time market demand.
Previously, the electricity price was updated every full hour, regardless of actual demand within the hour. With a quarter price, you now get a more finely divided price signal, which creates better conditions for managing electricity consumption smarter, for example by only charging when the price is at its lowest during the day.
However, this requires the user to have an electricity contract that allows such flexibility and that charging can be controlled via app or technology.
When did quarter price start to apply?
Quarter price came into effect on 1 October 2025 as part of an EU joint initiative to create a more transparent and flexible electricity market. Swedish kraftnät, electricity trading companies and electricity grid owners have since adapted their systems to support quartz metering for households with variable electricity contracts.
How can Tesla owners optimize charging with the right electricity contract?
To reduce charging costs in a quarter-price system, Tesla owners need to combine the right electricity contract with smart charging technology and active choices.
Since the price of electricity can vary greatly from one quarter to another, it becomes profitable to schedule charging in low-price quarters. This is easily done via the Tesla app or third-party apps such as Tibber, Easee or Monta, which offer automatic control based on electricity price forecasts.
It is particularly effective in combination with a variable electricity contract with an hourly or quarterly rate, where you actually pay what the electricity costs when you use it. By avoiding charging the car during peak periods of the day (usually 07:00 - 09:00 and 17:00 - 20:00) you can greatly reduce the charging cost.
For electric car owners, there are also special electricity agreements that are designed to specifically favor night charging and controllable consumption – these are often more profitable over time.
How can you get a cheaper electricity price?
The most effective way to get a lower electricity price is to regularly compare electricity contracts and choose one that suits your charging habits.
The market changes quickly, and the differences between different electricity companies can be several öre per kWh - which has a big impact in case of high charging volumes. If you have the ability to control your electricity consumption, you should choose a variable price electricity contract based on an hourly or quarterly rate, as this allows you to take advantage of low price periods.
Avoid charging the car during the grid's busiest hours, usually morning and evening, when prices are often at their highest. Instead, charge during the night or in the middle of the day when prices tend to be lower.
Börskollen makes it easy tofind the cheapest electricity pricefor you who drive Tesla. The service compares 150 electricity companies in real time and helps you choose the right one for your charging needs.
Why is the quarter price introduced in the electricity market?
Quarter price is introduced to create a more flexible, efficient and transparent electricity market - and to adapt Sweden's electricity trade to the EU's common regulations. You can read more about the transition and why it is happening atThe Energy Market Inspectorate's website.
The background to the change is the EU's electricity market directive, where the goal is for households and businesses to be able to adapt their electricity consumption better to availability and price in real time. By pricing the electricity every 15 minutes, they want to encourage consumers to move their consumption to times when the electricity is cheaper and the load on the electricity grid is low.
For the energy system, this means reducing the risk of power peaks - i.e. times when consumption is so high that electricity production from fossil reserve power plants must be activated. By equalizing demand, you can instead use more renewable electricity from, for example, sun and wind, which leads to a greener electricity market.
For electric car owners such as Tesla drivers, this means that your consumption - charging - becomes a concrete tool for both economic optimization and climate adaptation. By charging when electricity is cheapest, you contribute to a more sustainable energy system, while saving money.
Frequently asked questions about quartz price
How does the quartz price affect the electricity bill in practice?
Quarter price makes the electricity bill more dependent on the time of day you use electricity - especially if you have a variable electricity contract.
You can therefore receive both higher or lower costs depending on how well you time your consumption. For a Tesla owner, this can mean, for example, that a charge in the evening (during peak) costs twice as much as a charge at night (during low price).
Anyone who controls their electricity consumption with apps, scheduling or automatic charging optimization can benefit greatly from the quartz price.
Do I have to change my electricity contract to get a quarter price?
Yes, you need to have an electricity contract with quarter price in order to get quarter price. If you previously had an hourly rate, it changes to a quarter rate.
Is quartz price good?
Yes, for those of you who have control over your electricity use, the quarter price is a great opportunity to lower your electricity costs.
Quarter pricing provides increased transparency and flexibility, but it also requires you to be committed to how and when you use electricity. For electric car owners with access to smart charging technology, it is particularly advantageous, as there are good opportunities to schedule charging for the most affordable quarters of the day.
Overall, the quartz price favors the conscious and technologically equipped consumer.
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