How to Switch Electricity Provider in Norway — Step-by-Step Guide

Switching electricity supplier (kraftleverandør) in Norway is one of the easiest ways to save money on your energy bills — and it is far simpler than most expats expect. There is no engineer visit, no physical change to your meter or wiring, and no interruption to your electricity supply. The switch happens entirely in the background through a national data system called Elhub, which coordinates all metering and switching activity in Norway. This guide walks you through the entire process, from checking whether you are eligible to what happens on day one with your new supplier.

Can Foreigners Switch Electricity Supplier in Norway?

Yes — absolutely. There is no citizenship requirement for switching electricity suppliers in Norway. The key requirements are practical, not nationality-based:

You need a Norwegian identity number: Either a personnummer (the 11-digit national identity number issued to residents) or a d-nummer (the temporary identification number issued to foreign nationals registering in Norway). Most suppliers accept both. If you are in the very early stages of settling in Norway and have neither yet, you will need to wait until your identity number is issued before signing up independently.

The meter must be in your name: If you are renting and electricity is included in your rent (with the contract in the landlord's name), you cannot switch the supplier yourself — that is the landlord's prerogative. However, if you rent and electricity is not included — meaning you have your own contract with the current default supplier — you can switch freely.

You must have a Norwegian bank account: Most suppliers require a Norwegian bank account for direct debit (AvtaleGiro). Some suppliers also accept payment by invoice, but AvtaleGiro is strongly preferred.

If you tick all three boxes, you can switch just as easily as any Norwegian citizen. The entire process can be completed online in under 10 minutes.

What You Need Before You Start

Before you go to a comparison site or a supplier's sign-up page, gather the following information:

Your Målepunkt-ID (MPID, meter point ID): This is an 18-digit number that uniquely identifies your electricity meter. It starts with 7080. You can find it on your current electricity bill, in your online account with your current supplier, in your rental agreement, or by searching your address on Elhub.no. Without this number, suppliers cannot identify your meter and process the switch.

Your current supplier's name and any contract terms: Before switching, check whether you have a fixed-price (fastpris) contract with an early termination clause. Most spotpris (spot price) and standard variable contracts have no lock-in period and can be terminated without fees. Fixed contracts may charge a termination fee (bruddgebyr) — typically a few hundred NOK — if you leave before the contract end date. Read the fine print before switching.

Your Norwegian identity number: Your personnummer or d-nummer, used for identity verification during sign-up.

Your bank account number: For setting up AvtaleGiro (automatic bank payment) with the new supplier.

Your email address and Norwegian phone number: Most suppliers communicate via email and SMS. A Norwegian SIM card makes this easier.

Step-by-Step: How to Switch

Step 1 — Compare suppliers. Use a comparison tool such as Klarwatt, Strømpris.no, or Forbrukerrådet's electricity comparison portal. Enter your location (to identify your price zone, NO1 through NO5) and your estimated monthly consumption. This will show you available contracts ranked by expected total cost. Pay attention to the markup (påslag) on spotpris contracts — even a difference of 2 øre/kWh adds up to 200–300 NOK per year for average consumption.

Step 2 — Choose a contract and start the sign-up. Go to the chosen supplier's website and start the sign-up flow. Most suppliers have English-language options or sufficiently straightforward Norwegian forms that can be navigated with a browser translation tool. You will be asked for your MPID, identity number, address, and contact details.

Step 3 — Enter your MPID and verify your address. The supplier will look up your meter in Elhub using the MPID. The system will confirm the address, your current supplier, and whether there are any blocks on switching (for example, an outstanding debt with the current supplier may prevent the switch). Resolve any outstanding balance before attempting to switch.

Step 4 — Accept the contract and set up payment. Review the contract terms carefully. Key things to check: the påslag (markup in øre/kWh), any monthly subscription fee (some suppliers charge a fixed monthly fee in addition to the per-kWh markup), and the notice period for termination. Once you accept, set up AvtaleGiro through your bank's online portal or app using the KID number (betalingsreferanse, the payment reference) provided by the new supplier.

Step 5 — Wait for the switch to complete. By law, electricity switches in Norway must be completed within three weeks of the request being submitted to Elhub. In practice, most switches are processed within 1–2 billing cycles. You will receive confirmation from both your new supplier (welcoming you) and your old supplier (confirming termination). You do not need to contact your old supplier separately to cancel — the new supplier handles the notification through Elhub automatically.

Step 6 — Confirm your first bill. Your first bill from the new supplier may be a partial-month invoice, covering only the days from when the switch completed to the end of the month. This is normal. Verify that the rate matches what you signed up for.

Will There Be a Power Outage When I Switch?

No — there will be no interruption to your electricity supply, not even for a second. This is one of the most common misconceptions expats have about switching.

The switch is purely administrative. Your physical electricity delivery is handled by your nettselskap (grid company), which does not change when you switch suppliers. The same cables, the same meter, the same physical infrastructure delivers your power before and after the switch. What changes is only who you pay for the commodity electricity — and that happens in a database, not in your wiring.

Think of it like switching your mobile phone plan while keeping the same SIM card and phone number. Everything physical stays the same; only the billing relationship changes.

What About Norgespris When I Switch?

Norgespris (Norway's fixed electricity price cap of 50 øre/kWh excluding VAT) continues to apply after you switch suppliers, provided you remain eligible. Eligibility is tied to your registered address and your status as a household consumer — it is not tied to any specific supplier.

When you sign up with a new supplier, the application of Norgespris on eligible consumption is automatic. Your new supplier is contractually obligated to apply the government cap when spot prices exceed 50 øre/kWh (ex. VAT) for the first 5,000 kWh of monthly consumption. You do not need to re-register for Norgespris or take any additional steps.

However, one important nuance: Norgespris does not apply to fastpris (fixed price) contracts. If you switch to a fastpris contract at, say, 65 øre/kWh, you will pay 65 øre/kWh even when spot prices fall below that. The government cap on spot prices does not override a fixed contract you have voluntarily entered into. For this reason, many consumer advocates recommend staying on spotpris contracts unless you have a specific reason to lock in a fixed rate, since spotpris automatically benefits from Norgespris when needed.

What If I Move to a New Address?

Moving house in Norway is treated as a new electricity setup, not a simple transfer. Here is what happens:

At your old address: Notify your current supplier of your moving date (utflyttingsdato). They will close your contract and issue a final bill based on your meter reading on that day. You are not charged a switching fee for ending your contract due to a move.

At your new address: Find the MPID for the new address (check the rental agreement or Elhub.no). Contact your preferred supplier — either your existing one or a new one you want to switch to — and open a new contract for the new address. The new supplier will activate your account through Elhub.

If you do not arrange a supplier for your new address before moving in, you will automatically be placed on the default contract from whatever supplier currently holds that meter point. This is usually a standard variabel (standard variable tariff) contract, which tends to be more expensive. Set up your contract before or immediately after moving to avoid defaulting onto an uncompetitive tariff.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not checking for termination fees: Always read your current contract before switching. A fixed-price contract with a 500 NOK termination fee might not be worth breaking if the savings from switching are modest.

Switching before resolving outstanding debt: If you have unpaid bills with your current supplier, they can block the switch through Elhub. Clear any outstanding balance first.

Ignoring the monthly subscription fee: Some cheap-looking suppliers have a low markup but a high fixed monthly subscription (månedspris). Make sure to factor this into your total cost calculation. A supplier charging 2 øre/kWh markup and 99 NOK/month may be more expensive than one charging 5 øre/kWh with no monthly fee, depending on your consumption level.

Choosing a supplier without good English support: If your Norwegian is limited, consider how you will handle billing queries or disputes. Some suppliers have English customer service; others are entirely Norwegian-language. For peace of mind as a newcomer, English-accessible customer service is worth considering.

Switching electricity supplier in Norway is genuinely one of the simplest changes you can make to improve your financial situation as an expat. It takes less than 15 minutes, causes zero disruption, and can save you hundreds of kroner per year. There is very little reason not to do it if you are currently on a default or legacy contract.