What do negative electricity prices mean?
Negative wholesale prices mean generators pay to put power on the grid, usually when wind and solar oversupply demand. On a dynamic contract, your energy component can fall below zero for those hours.
Household "all-in" prices may still be positive after taxes and fees, or only mildly negative. Treat negative hours as unusually cheap, not as a guarantee you get paid to consume.
Should you always run everything?
If prices are negative or near zero, flexible loads are often worth running, as long as you are not creating other costs (noise, wear, or export opportunity loss with solar).
FAQ
- Do I get paid to use electricity?
- Sometimes the energy component is negative, but taxes/fees can offset that. Check your supplier's formula.