Electricity, water, waste and internet in Norway: housing bills in 2026

Which housing bills do you have to pay in Norway?

In Norway a household may pay for electricity, grid rent, water, sewage, waste collection and broadband. Not every cost reaches the person living in the home directly. Municipal fees are often paid by the owner, and some costs are already included in the rent or in the common costs of the housing cooperative. What matters most is telling apart a service you have your own contract for from a cost the landlord or the housing association must cover.

There is no single Norwegian monthly price that fits everyone. Consumption, price area, municipal fees, type of home and supplier contracts all vary. The figures below are sourced 2026 examples, not an invoice for every household. Checked 9 November 2026.

Why are electricity and grid rent two separate costs?

You buy electricity from a power supplier, while the grid company owns the network that carries it to your home. You can choose your power supplier, but normally not the local grid company. The power bill can therefore include a power price, a markup and a fixed fee, while grid rent can include an energy charge and a capacity charge. Taxes come on top. A combined invoice does not change this split.

The Norwegian Consumer Council advises you to compare markups, fixed fees, terms and extra services before choosing a power contract. The comparison service strømpris.no shows the offers on the market.

Source: Forbrukerrådet, checklist before choosing a power contract, checked 9 November 2026.

What is Norgespris in 2026, and does it include grid rent?

Norgespris is a voluntary state scheme, not a replacement for a power contract. In 2026 the price is 50 øre/kWh including VAT where electricity carries 25 percent VAT, or 40 øre/kWh without VAT. In Nordland, Troms and Finnmark there is no VAT on electricity, so the price there is 40 øre/kWh. The scheme has a cap of 5,000 kWh per month for a normal home and 1,000 kWh for a holiday home. Consumption above the cap is settled under your contract with the power supplier. Grid rent, taxes and any markup from the supplier come on top.

You must order the scheme actively and cannot receive the electricity subsidy at the same time. In its update of 29 October 2026 NVE stated that you must order Norgespris again for 2027 and that ordering opens on 5 January 2027. The 2027 price is not given on the NVE page as of 9 November 2026.

Source: NVE, This is Norgespris, published 2 July 2025, updated 29 October 2026, checked 9 November 2026.

What do water and sewage cost in 2026?

Water and sewage fees are set locally. Some municipalities calculate them from the size of the home, others from metered consumption. In Oslo the 2026 price is NOK 43.23 per m³ for water and NOK 28.81 per m³ for sewage, both excluding VAT, plus an annual subscription fee of NOK 481. Oslo adds 15 percent VAT to these services.

The municipality’s example for a 100 m² home with estimated consumption (110 m³ a year) is NOK 9,666.21 a year including VAT. This is Oslo and this particular example, not a national average or an extra monthly bill every tenant has to pay.

Source: Oslo kommune, water and sewage fees, prices from 1 January 2026, checked 9 November 2026.

Who pays for waste collection and municipal fees?

The municipality charges a fee for waste handling, but how it is paid depends on the type of home. In a detached house the fee may be invoiced directly to the owner. In a housing cooperative or condominium it may be part of the common costs. In a rental, the landlord can normally not demand an extra waste fee on top of the agreed rent.

Oslo kommune states that the waste fee for private households is invoiced four times a year together with the other municipal fees. The price depends on the collection point (one fee per collection point), how many households share it and how often the containers are emptied. Collection of cardboard and paper is included in the waste fee. Look up the right scheme and address before you use any price figure.

Sources: Oslo kommune, waste fees and prices; Forbrukerrådet, rent. Checked 9 November 2026.

Can a landlord charge extra for electricity, water or waste?

According to the Consumer Council, a landlord cannot add their own charges for property tax, waste collection, chimney sweeping, cable TV, insurance and similar costs on top of the agreed rent. Payment for electricity and fuel can be demanded only if it was agreed, and the same applies to water and sewage by metered consumption. Without a water meter, the landlord cannot charge for water and sewage.

New demands for electricity, fuel or water cannot appear after the contract is signed unless they are in the agreement. If electricity or metered water is agreed, ask for a clear statement and documentation. Also check what internet and heating actually cover before you sign.

Source: Forbrukerrådet, rent, checked 9 November 2026.

How do you choose broadband for the right address?

Start by asking the landlord or the board whether internet is already included. Housing cooperatives and condominiums may have collective agreements. Then compare fibre, cable and fixed wireless broadband available at the specific address. Look at the price after the campaign period, speed, set-up fee, equipment and notice period.

The Nkom coverage survey, corrected and updated on 17 June 2026, shows broadband access and supplier choice by county and municipality. The statistics are useful background but do not prove that a particular flat already has an active subscription.

Sources: Nkom, coverage survey; Forbrukerrådet and NBBL, Broadband in housing cooperatives (2022, written for cooperative boards). Checked 9 November 2026.

How do you pay the bills?

Most suppliers offer electronic invoices or automatic bank debits if your bank and the agreement support it. Always check the KID number, recipient, due date and whether the invoice is for electricity, grid rent or a municipal service. If you are new to Norway and have no Norwegian bank account, ask each supplier which payment methods are possible. Do not assume that every company accepts foreign cards.

What should you do before moving in and out?

Confirm in writing which services come with the rent and which electricity, broadband or other contracts you must set up yourself. Photograph the meter readings and note the date you take over. Notify the relevant suppliers of the move and keep the final balance and cancellation confirmations. If the home uses gas or other fuel for heating, this must be checked separately; not all Norwegian homes have such contracts.

Read more on NorgeGuide

See also our guide to the electricity bill in winter and the guide to renting a home in Oslo for one to three months.

In the catalog you will find telecom and internet providers in Oslo, waste and recycling in Oslo and real estate agencies in Oslo.

In other countries

Utility bills in Sweden

Utility bills in Denmark

Utility bills in Finland

Utility bills in Georgia