Since 1 April 2026 Austria has had the Sommer-Nieder-Arbeitspreis, abbreviated SNAP. Electricity used between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in this time window from April to September is charged at a consumption-based network energy price that is reduced by 20 percent. That sounds bigger than the actual saving on the whole bill: the discount does not apply to the supplier's electricity price, not to all levies, and not to the fixed part of the network costs.
SNAP 2026 at a glance
| question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does SNAP apply? | 1 April to 30 September, daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| How large is the discount? | 20 percent on the consumption-dependent energy charge of the network fees |
| Who is it for? | Consumption at network level 7, i.e. mainly households and small businesses |
| What is required? | Smart Meter and quarter-hour values readable by the grid operator |
| Do you have to sign up for a tariff? | No — if the conditions are met, SNAP is applied automatically |
Check Smart Meter and quarter-hour values
An installed Smart Meter alone is not always sufficient. The grid operator must be able to read consumption values in quarter-hour intervals. Open your grid operator's customer portal and look for terms like "Viertelstundenwerte", "Opt-in" or "erweiterte Konfiguration". If this setting is not clear, ask the grid operator directly. The electricity supplier is not the first point of contact for this.
If the requirements are met, you do not need a separate SNAP contract. The lower energy charge is taken into account automatically. On the network bill it may appear as e.g. "Sommer-Nieder-Arbeitspreis" or "Netznutzung Sommer Arbeitspreis". Electricity volumes assigned to a renewable energy community do not receive the SNAP discount in addition.
Which appliances can sensibly be shifted?
- Dishwasher: Fill after breakfast and set the start time to late morning.
- Washing machine: Move laundry day, if possible, into the midday window.
- Hot water: Control electric boilers or heat pumps only via the intended time programs.
- EV: Charge at home during the day if the vehicle and Wallbox are already connected.
- Cooking: Pre-cooking or baking can also fit into the time window.
Only shift processes that suit your daily routine and safe use of appliances. Washing machines, dryers or dishwashers should not be left unattended just because of the discount. You can find further saving options in the guide Strom sparen 2026. For summer cooling, the instructions for richtigen Aufstellen eines mobilen Klimageräts.
How much does SNAP really save?
A 20 percent lower network energy charge does not mean 20 percent less on the entire electricity bill. The actual saving depends on the network area and on how many kilowatt-hours fall into the eligible window. Wiener Netze cites roughly €11 per year for a 2,500 kWh annual consumption and about €15 for 3,500 kWh. For other network areas and consumption profiles the amounts may vary.
The practical 3-step check
- Check in the Smart-Meter portal whether quarter-hour values are activated.
- Select two easily shiftable appliances instead of reorganizing the whole household.
- On the next bill, check whether SNAP is shown as a separate energy charge.
SNAP is therefore not a major tariff change but a small automatic incentive: use electricity when a lot of solar energy is available on the grid in summer. The benefit remains modest but can be taken advantage of without loss of comfort.
Sources and further information
- E-Control: Sommer-Nieder-Arbeitspreis SNAP
- Wiener Netze: Sommer-Netzentgelt und Beispielersparnis
- DIE UMWELTBERATUNG: Fragen und Antworten zum SNAP-Sommer-Netztarif
Feature image: AI-generated stock image with gpt-image-2, created for meinhaushalt.at.
