Danes continue energy savings post-price surge
Following a significant leap in electricity prices in 2022, Danish electricity consumption slowed down notably, even into 2023, despite more households adopting electric vehicles and heat pumps. According to the Danish Energy Agency (Forsyningstilsynet), 2023 saw only a 1.7 percent increase in kilowatt-hour consumption compared to 2022, which is much lower than the historical trend prior to the energy crisis. Norlys, an energy company serving over 550,000 domestic customers, observed continued caution in power use. Mads Brøgger, director of Norlys’ energy business, highlighted the historically high price increases and fluctuations in 2022, which profoundly impacted many families. The shock of high electricity prices led to an intense interest in monitoring electricity prices, with apps for tracking electricity prices and shifted habits like doing laundry at night. Although prices have generally decreased, the trend of energy saving persists, and Brøgger suggests that this increased attention to electricity prices and consumption patterns is likely here to stay.