After a meeting with the electricity industry and several supervisory authorities, the government will now have more standardized and consumer-friendly agreements in place. – The point of new regulations is of course to strengthen consumers’ interests and rights, says Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp). Previously, news has written about Bente Rasmussen Grefsrud at Eina in Innlandet, who felt deceived when she signed a power agreement. For Grefsrud, however, the initiative from the government comes too late. She also has little faith that new rules will be enough. Read the response from Fjordkraft further down in the matter! Not convinced Last year, Rasmussen Grefsrud was advised to change the electricity agreement, it turned out to be an expensive experience. She entered into a variable electricity agreement with Fjordkraft where the electricity price changed every 30 days, not from hour to hour as most spot price agreements work. The disabled woman ended up with two electricity bills of 12,000 each in November and December. She believes that the power companies make so much from the agreements that more is needed before they are scrapped. – I don’t believe it until I see it. They no longer have my trust, and will not get it, she says. TEMPTING: Bente’s agreement with Fjordkraft is called “Garantistrøm”. Photo: Roar Berntsen / news Fjordkraft has today stopped the sale of variable power agreements. news has again been in contact with Fjordkraft. They refer to their previous answer in the case. Read the answer here: From Fjordkraft: We think it is very unfortunate that the customer feels cheated. According to our information, the customer came to us in connection with the acquisition of Eidsiva in 2021, and then had a spot price agreement. The customer then called us in September 2021 with a desire for a more affordable electricity agreement. In dialogue with customer service, we have settled on our Garantistrøm agreement, which is a variable agreement with a predetermined price for each hour throughout the day. The customer has accepted the agreement via SMS. At the time, the average spot price in the customer’s price range was 135 øre per kWh. When ordering, our guaranteed electricity agreement had a price of 78.90 øre per kWh, with a price cap for the rest of the year of 99.99 øre. Without us knowing the details of the customer dialogue, this appears as a completely curative recommendation at the time. The agreement has saved the customer money for several periods. If the customer had made contact today, the recommendation would probably have been different. We stopped actively selling variable agreements last autumn, but the agreement has been available on direct request from customers. However, we have decided to end the sale of variable contracts in their entirety. Our variable customers are free to change their agreement or terminate their customer relationship almost at any time. In order for us to be able to offer a repayment plan, there has to be an existing customer relationship. If the customer relationship is terminated, outstanding amounts will be due for payment in full. Source: Frode Fjellstad, communications advisor at Fjordkraft Several churches are closed during the winter months due to high electricity prices. The municipalities must take responsibility, the government believes. Asking the electricity industry to clean up objectionable practices Family Minister Kjersti Toppe (Sp), who is also responsible for consumer policy, met last week with representatives of the electricity industry, supervisory authorities, Elklagenemda and the Consumer Council. Toppe will now have a standard spot price agreement in place that all electricity companies can offer. – We made clear demands on the industry to clean up objectionable practices and comply with the new regulations, and also announced new measures, she writes via her communications advisor in an e-mail to news. REQUIREMENTS: Family Minister Kjersti Toppe will have requirements for the content of agreements and a ban on agreements where the risk to the consumer seems unreasonable. Photo: Tom Balgaard / news news has asked Toppe questions about how she wants to make sure that this reaches consumers. – We will ensure active enforcement of the new regulations from 1 November to safeguard consumers’ interests. The Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority has been tasked with giving high priority to the electricity market and cracking down on breaches of the law, says Toppe. – The Consumer Council tells news that the sale of unfavorable power agreements, such as variable ones, has decreased, but that there are many people who still have these agreements. Could it be relevant to ban this, so that those who already have such an agreement are helped to end it? – I am concerned that there are still consumers who are in unfavorable agreements, without receiving good and accessible information. Therefore, the government is now considering being able to ban certain agreements, such as “standard-variable” agreements, and to introduce a duty for all companies to inform about risks in all types of agreements. Toppe adds that she has a clear expectation for the industry to strengthen the Elklagenemnda, which the industry has told them they are now working on. Redda av vennen og Spleis Bente believes that the electricity companies take advantage of the fact that many people already have this type of agreement without being aware of it. – I think they have become greedy. They think they are taking advantage of the fact that people are not able to keep up as well as we should, she says. She has been told that there is a waiting period of around one year for complaints to Elklagenemda. – It took me a month to get back on my feet, after fighting with people behind high walls. I would never have been able to do that without the help I have received from kind neighbours, friends and people who have given me money through splicing, says Bente. GOT HELP: Bente is happy for all the help she has received, but says she thinks of those who have to stand completely alone. She fears that the electricity companies will now hide required information from the customer, for example in a lot of text. Photo: Roar Berntsen / news After Spåtind hotel went bankrupt, several apartment owners believe that all responsibility has fallen on them. Now they are protesting. Read more here:
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The government wants to clean up the electricity market, Bente Rasmussen Grefsrud from Eina is not convinced – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
