Energy prices: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Energy prices
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on energy prices describe energy prices, energy taxes and tax-like payments. The data are collected from different sources and published quarterly.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
Statistics Finland’s fuel classification contains 39 categories, each of which has three levels. The classification describes the fuels used in energy production and industrial processes and their properties, such as calorific values and emission factors.
The statistics on energy prices are based on the following fuels used in energy production: hard coal (1212), natural gas (1311), milled peat (211), sod peat (212) and forest chips (3112, 3113, 3114). These fuels account for 60 per cent of all fuels used in power and heat production, ranging from 45 to 75 per cent depending on the year.
The electricity market price is best illustrated by the regional price of the Nord Pool exchange for Finland. Around 75 per cent of the electricity used in Finland passes through Nord Pool’s day-ahead market.
In addition to fuels, enterprises and consumers buy electricity and district heating. Among consumer fuels, the most important are motor gasoline, diesel fuel and light fuel oil. The price of natural gas, electricity and district heat is published by type of consumer.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
Data are produced on the following: fuel prices in energy production; wholesale electricity market price; user prices of electricity, district heating and natural gas; consumer prices of liquid fuels.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
Fuels in energy production:
• The price of hard coal is derived from Customs’ import data broken down by CN code.
• From 2021 onwards the price of natural gas is based on Statistics Finlands data collection consumption band over 1 111 111 MWh. Up till the end of 2019 the price was based on the Energy Authority's user type T8.
• The price of forest chips is based on data collected by the FOEX on forest chip transactions made by enterprises.
• Statistics Finland collects the price of peat through an inquiry aimed at peat producers and users. The collection duty was transferred to Statistics Finland in 2019 from the Bioenergy Association of Finland.
Electricity market price:
• The electricity market price is the price published by Nord Pool for the Elspot market. Approximately 75 per cent of the electricity used in Finland passes through this market.
Consumer prices of liquid fuels:
• The prices of motor gasoline, renewable biodiesel, diesel fuel and light fuel oil are based on Statistics Finland’s data collection for the consumer price index. Prices are collected from liquid fuel distribution stations.
User prices of electricity and natural gas (enterprise and consumer prices):
• The Energy Authority publishes electricity and natural gas prices for different types of customers, some of which represent enterprises and some consumers. The price is calculated for the specified customer based on all public tariffs.
User prices of district heat (enterprise and consumer prices):
• Finnish Energy (ET) publishes district heat prices for different types of customers. The price is calculated for the specified customer type based on the data in the district heating statistics.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
For energy production, enterprise and consumer prices, the reference area is Finland.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
Fuels in energy production:
• Coal and natural gas: from 1998 onwards
• Forest chips, milled peat and sod peat: from 1999 onwards
Electricity market price:
• From 1997 onwards
Enterprise and consumer prices:
• Motor gasoline, diesel fuel and light fuel oil: from 1988 onwards
• Renewable diesel: from 2025 onwards
• Electricity user prices: from 1992 onwards
• User prices of district heat in type buildings:
- type building definition 1 from 1996 to 2010
- type building definition 2 from 2010
• Natural gas prices
• Energy Authority’s type user prices from 2001 to 2019
• Statistics Finland’s collection – starting from spring 2021
• Motor gasoline, diesel fuel and light fuel oil: from 1988 onwards
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
c/kWh
€/MWh
€/t
€/1,000 m3 (0℃)
c/l
c/kg
Annual change, %
Quarterly change, %
Tax rate, %
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The reference period of the statistics is a quarter and a month.
Classifications (SIMS 3.2)
The price of energy to the user can be divided into different components. The most important division is the division of the price into the following three parts: duty-free price, excise duties and VAT.
Of energy products, electricity, district heating and natural gas are purchased through a grid connection through a continuous contract. Pricing involves several components, and the unit price is different for small and large users. The differences are described in Finland by typical user groups. Typical user groups have been determined for electricity, district heating and natural gas.
The market price of electricity is illustrated by the prices on the Nord Pool electricity exchange. Because of the transmission restrictions, price areas are sometimes formed in the market. This is illustrated by the price area classification.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Oil
Comprises following fuel classification categories: - Refinery gas (1111) - LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) (1112) - Naphtha (1121) - Aviation gasoline (1123) - Kerosene (jet fuel) (1131) - Other kerosenes (1132) - Light fuel oil (heating fuel oil) (1134) - Gasoil (for non-road use) (1135) - Other medium distillates (1139) - Heavy fuel oil, sulphur content < 1% (1141) - Heavy fuel oil, sulphur content = 1% (1142) - Other heavy distillates (1143) - Petroleum coke (1150) - Recycled and waste oils (1160) - Other petroleum products (1190).
Wood fuels
Comprises following fuel classification categories: - Firewood (stems and split firewood) (3111) - Chips from roundwood (3112) - Forest residue chips (3113) - Bark (3121) - Sawdust, cutter shavings etc. (3122) - Wood residue chips (3123) - Unspecified industrial wood residue (3128) - Other industrial wood residue (3129) - Black liquor and other concentrated liquors (3130) - Other by-products from wood processing industry (3140) - Recovered wood (3150) - Wood pellets and briquettes (3160).
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The sources for price data on fuels used in energy production:
• hard coal: international trade statistics of Finnish Customs
• natural gas: from 2021 onward Statistics Finland's data collection, up till 2019 natural gas prices published by the Energy Authority
• forest chips: FOEX Indexes Oy
• peat: own data collection by Statistics Finland from 2019 onwards; data of the Bioenergy Association Finland up to 2019
The source for wholesale electricity market prices is Nord Pool.
The sources for user prices:
- electricity:
- consumer prices: prices subject to the obligation to supply published by the Energy Authority for different consumer groups
- prices for corporate customers: own data collection by Statistics Finland
- district heat: prices published by Finnish Energy (ET) for different user groups
- natural gas: from 2021 onward Statistics Finland's data collection, up till 2019 Energy Authority
- consumer prices of liquid fuels: own data collection by Statistics Finland
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
Some of the data are collected monthly, some quarterly. District heat prices are only available twice a year.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
The data collection method varies by energy product. More detailed information about Statistics Finland’s own data collection can be found in the documentation of the consumer and producer price indices, and in the case of other energy products, directly from the data producer.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The method of data validation varies by energy product. Information about Statistics Finland’s own data collection can be found in the documentation of the consumer and producer price indices, and in the case of other energy products, directly from the data producer.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The quality assessment of the statistics on energy prices is based on an assessment of the magnitude of changes in the time series. The data are mainly derived from completed statistics, and the producers of those statistics are responsible for ensuring the quality of the data collected.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
The quality assessment of the statistics on energy prices is based on an assessment of the magnitude of changes in the time series. The data are mainly derived from completed statistics, and the producers of those statistics are responsible for ensuring the quality of the data collected.
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
The whole set of statistics has been published without delay. For individual price information, obtaining the data by the date of publication has not always been possible due to changes in the system of the data provider, for example.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
The statistics on energy prices serve national needs and the definitions used differ from those of Eurostat. For example, the consumer prices of electricity reported to Eurostat according to the size of consumption are collected from large energy sellers by consumption category, while prices by consumer type published by the Energy Authority are used in the statistics on energy prices.
International comparisons should be made using the prices published by Eurostat and the IEA.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
When the data content changes clearly, the data are differentiated into a specific variable.
In the case of district heat, natural gas and electricity prices calculated for different consumer types, there have been no major changes in the natural gas and district heat markets, so the time series describe well the development up to 2020.
The liberalisation of the natural gas market at the beginning of 2020 caused a break in the price series of natural gas. It is still too early to assess the extent to which the data provided by the new data collection are consistent with previous series.
The liberalisation of the electricity market in the mid-1990s has changed the market logic and the share of electricity sold by tariffs subject to the obligation to supply has decreased and user prices are no longer representative in the way they were before the market was liberalised. In the case of enterprises, in 2007, prices subject to the obligation to supply were replaced in the statistics with prices collected by Statistics Finland.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
Statistics Finland's release calendar Future publications
Future publications of the statistics can be found on the page of the statistics at: Future publications of the statistics
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The data are published quarterly around 10 weeks after the end of the quarter.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published quarterly on the home page of the statistics.
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
It is not possible to identify a single respondent from the statistics.