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Spot price — what does "spot" mean for electricity?

Quick answer: In the European electricity market, "spot price" usually means the day-ahead price — the wholesale price set the day before delivery via auction. Some countries also use "spot" for the intraday market, where prices are continuously updated up until 1 hour before delivery.

In depth

The terms "spot" and "day-ahead" are often used interchangeably in everyday energy talk — and that's mostly fine. Both refer to short-horizon wholesale pricing.

Strictly: day-ahead is one of two short-horizon markets. The other is intraday (continuous trading 1h–15min before delivery, used to balance forecast errors). Together they make up the "spot market". Both clear at exchanges like EPEX SPOT, Nord Pool or OMIE.

For consumer tariffs, "spotpris" / "spot price" almost always means day-ahead — that's the price your supplier passes through, plus their margin, taxes and grid fees.

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