How much the state earns from electricity

The Norwegian state collected 32.6 billion kroner from the power sector last year, more than the 4.8 billion kroner it paid in electricity support to households.

The figures, provided by Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg in a written response to Rødt lawmaker Sofie Marhaug, show how sharply state power revenues have fluctuated. The government took in 7.6 billion kroner in 2021, 39.6 billion in 2022, 91.8 billion in 2023 and 51.7 billion in 2024. Stoltenberg stressed that the estimates are uncertain.

Household electricity support reached 26.4 billion kroner in 2022 and 16.4 billion in 2023, before falling to 3.7 billion in 2024 and 4.8 billion in 2025. The government estimates that support will rise to 21.5 billion kroner in 2026 after the introduction of Norgespris. Reduced electricity duties also cut state revenues by several billion kroner a year, according to the government.

Norgespris has become more expensive than expected and faces criticism that it discourages energy saving. Volue expects the cost to fall next year if electricity prices ease, but estimates that an especially dry year could push the scheme’s 2027 cost as high as 55 billion kroner.

Several politicians defend the arrangement, saying high electricity prices also increase revenues for the state, counties and municipalities because of public ownership in the power sector. “We have Norgespris precisely because prices can shoot up,” said Mani Hussaini, head of parliament’s energy and environment committee. Electricity prices in southern Norway have risen this autumn after low reservoir levels and limited gas supplies in European storage facilities.

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We have Norgespris precisely because prices can shoot up.