Glossary
Key terms and definitions for understanding electricity pricing and the Prezio API
This glossary explains key terms used throughout the Prezio API and electricity market context.
A
Authentication credential used to access the Prezio API. The same key works for both sandbox and production environments, with access controlled server-side based on your subscription.
Supported time resolutions (15, 30, or 60 minutes) for a specific country, returned by the /countries/ endpoint. Different countries may support different time intervals based on their market data availability.
B
Geographic pricing areas within a country where electricity prices are uniform. Large countries like Sweden and Norway are divided into multiple bid zones (e.g., SE1, SE2, NO1, NO2) with potentially different spot prices.
C
The total cost for a specific tariff element during an interval, calculated as unit_price × consumption amount. Appears in /calculate/ responses alongside unit_price when multiple price breakdowns are needed.
Categories of tariff pricing elements:
- PER_KWH: Price per kilowatt-hour consumed
- FIXED: Fixed subscription fees
- TAX: Government taxes and levies
- DEMAND: Capacity-based charges per kW
Market segments with different pricing structures:
- RES: Residential customers
- COM: Commercial customers
- IND: Industrial customers
D
Company responsible for operating the local electricity distribution network. DSOs charge grid fees for delivering electricity to end customers through power lines and transformers.
Response format options for API calls:
- full: Complete breakdown of all price components with metadata
- semi: Prices aggregated by organization type (DSO, Retailer, etc.)
- summarized: Only total prices, no component breakdown
E
Appears twice in API responses: First in tariff_elements to list all available pricing elements with metadata, then in each interval’s elements array showing the price results for that time period. Elements can represent individual components (full detail), aggregated costs by organization type (semi detail), or include VAT as separate line items (separated VAT).
G
Fees charged by DSOs and TSOs for maintaining and operating the electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. These are regulated costs that vary by location and consumption patterns.
I
Time resolution for pricing data in minutes. Can be 15, 30, or 60 minutes depending on market data availability. All timestamps in requests must align with the chosen interval. See Live API and Calculate API for detailed usage.
Subtotal price for a specific time period, representing the sum of all element prices during that interval. Appears in API responses as the cost for that particular time slot.
Timestamp marking the beginning of a pricing period. For example, “2023-10-15T14:00:00Z” represents the hour from 14:00 to 15:00. Must align with the specified interval_minutes.
Discrete time periods for which prices are calculated and returned. The number and format of intervals depends on the detail level requested:
- Full/Semi detail: Returns price breakdown for each time period
- Summarized detail: No individual intervals, only total_price across all periods
L
Score from 1-10 indicating the accuracy of address geocoding. Higher scores mean more precise location matching, which improves tariff applicability accuracy.
M
Primary tariff groupings used to organize and simplify tariff selection for API users. Main tariffs group related individual tariffs for easier discovery and selection.
O
Entity in the electricity market that provides pricing components:
- DSO: Distribution System Operator (grid fees)
- TSO: Transmission System Operator (transmission fees)
- RET: Retailer (energy costs and margins)
- TAX: Government authority (taxes and levies)
- OTHER: Other market participants
Classification of market participants by their role in electricity supply. Used for aggregating costs in “semi” detail responses and understanding price component sources.
P
When only a single price value is returned for an element (typically in /live/ responses), it appears as “price”. When multiple price breakdowns are needed, separate unit_price and calculated_price fields are used instead.
Individual elements that make up the total electricity price, such as grid fees, energy costs, retailer margins, taxes, and regulatory charges. Each component has its own pricing structure and variability. In API responses, these appear as part of tariff elements.
All price values in Prezio API responses use 6 decimal places (e.g., “0.123456”) to ensure high precision for financial calculations and cost analysis.
R
Company that sells electricity to end customers. Retailers purchase electricity from the wholesale market and add their margins and services. Customers can often choose their retailer in liberalized markets.
Costs added by electricity retailers, including energy procurement costs, profit margins, customer service fees, and risk premiums for price volatility.
S
Development and testing environment with limited but real pricing data. Open to all registered users for integration development and testing before moving to production.
Real-time electricity prices determined by supply and demand in wholesale markets. Spot prices change hourly and form the basis for variable electricity tariffs.
T
Pricing structure that defines how electricity usage is billed. Each tariff contains multiple components (grid costs, energy costs, taxes) and applies to specific customer types and locations. See Tariffs Guide for detailed information.
The individual pricing elements that make up electricity costs, such as grid distribution fees, energy costs, retailer margins, and taxes. In API responses, these appear in the tariff_elements array with metadata, and then their prices appear in each interval’s elements array.
Pricing structure where electricity costs vary based on time of day, day of week, or season. Common patterns include peak/off-peak pricing or seasonal variations.
The sum of all interval_price values across all time periods in a calculation or pricing request. Represents the complete cost for the entire time range and consumption specified.
Company responsible for operating the high-voltage electricity transmission network that connects power plants to distribution networks. TSOs charge transmission fees for long-distance electricity transport.
U
The price per unit (typically per kWh) for a specific tariff element. In /calculate/ responses, appears alongside calculated_price to show both the rate and the total cost for that element during the interval.
V
Tax applied to electricity bills. The Prezio API offers three VAT handling options:
- excluded: Prices without VAT (default)
- included: VAT included in each component
- separated: VAT shown as separate line items
Electricity tariffs where prices change over time based on market conditions, typically following spot market prices. Contrasts with fixed pricing where rates remain constant over contract periods.
Need More Information?
If you encounter terms not covered in this glossary, contact our support team at support@prezio.eu. We’re happy to clarify any electricity market or API-specific terminology.