Key terms from European electricity markets - from day-ahead prices to synthetic tariff structures.
The electricity price established through an auction held the day before delivery. EPEX Spot (Central Europe) and Nord Pool (Nordics/Baltics) publish hourly day-ahead prices typically by 13:00 CET. These prices are the foundation for dynamic electricity tariffs.
An electricity tariff where the energy price component changes over time - typically hourly - based on wholesale market prices. Used in smart charging, HEMS, and demand-response applications to shift consumption to cheaper hours.
The European Power Exchange, operating day-ahead and intraday electricity markets for Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Great Britain, and more. Day-ahead auction results are published daily and form the basis of dynamic tariffs in Central Europe.
The rate paid to electricity producers - typically solar or wind - for energy exported to the grid. Feed-in tariffs are critical for prosumer applications (solar + storage) and vary significantly by country, supplier, and grid zone.
A charge for the use of the electricity distribution or transmission network, separate from the energy commodity price. Grid fees are typically regulated by national authorities and can form 30–50% of the total electricity bill. Also called network tariff, Netzentgelt (DE), or nettoek (NL).
The electricity trading exchange serving the Nordic and Baltic states (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, plus GB and others). Nord Pool publishes day-ahead prices for each bidding zone independently.
A geographic area within which electricity prices are uniform in the day-ahead market. Bidding zones are defined by grid constraints. Germany/Austria/Luxembourg share a zone on EPEX Spot; Norway has five zones (NO1–NO5); Sweden has four (SE1–SE4).
An electricity tariff with a fixed energy price that does not change based on real-time market conditions. Includes flat rates, time-of-use (TOU) schedules, and seasonal rates. The most common tariff type for residential consumers.
A tariff type where the final price is calculated programmatically from a formula - typically defined by a regulatory authority or supplier - rather than being a fixed value. Common examples: Austrian Netztarife, Spanish PVPC, Italian PLACET. tounify decodes these formulas and normalizes them into machine-readable JSON.
A tariff structure with different prices for different time periods: peak/off-peak, day/night, or multi-period (e.g., 3 or 4 daily bands). TOU rates incentivize consumption shifts to cheaper periods without requiring real-time price tracking.
Precio Voluntario al Pequeño Consumidor - Spain's regulated household electricity tariff. PVPC prices are indexed hourly to the OMIE Iberian day-ahead market, making it a dynamic regulated tariff. Widely used as the default tariff for Spanish residential customers.
A consumer who also produces electricity - typically via rooftop solar panels. Prosumers need both consumption tariff data (what they pay when importing from the grid) and feed-in tariff data (what they receive when exporting surplus generation).
The practice of scheduling EV charging sessions to coincide with periods of low electricity prices or high renewable generation. Smart charging requires access to real-time or day-ahead price signals - the core use case for dynamic tariff APIs.
Home Energy Management System - software and hardware that optimizes energy consumption within a household by controlling devices (EV charger, heat pump, battery, appliances) based on price signals, grid state, and user preferences.