– The electricity costs are absolutely crazy, says 67-year-old Per Sunde. The pensioner no longer leaves the ceiling light on and he has largely turned off all electric heating. And now, 40 years after he built his house on Randaberg, he is investing in a new fireplace. It will be in the basement, and according to Sunde’s own calculations, it can help cut expenses by several hundreds of Norwegian kroner a month. – I hope for NOK 800 to 1,000 a month, because I also have an effect on the floor above, he says. Per Sunde has become very aware of his own electricity consumption and has little to spare for the high prices. – I think it’s absolutely horrible, he says. Photo: Marte Skodje / news New orders every day He is not alone in thinking this way. This is well felt by those who sell fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. Stavanger Varmesenter noticed an increased influx of customers already in April, and this summer sales are red hot. – If I compare July this year and July last year, we probably have an increase in July of around 50 per cent, says Helge Jansen, who is general manager of the store. Several retailers in southern Norway are now reporting good fireplace sales. At Henriksen brensel in Oslo, store manager Roy Bovoll is busy. – June and July have been absolutely fantastic with great activity. It goes in one go from the time the shop opens at eight o’clock until you go home in the afternoon once, he says. A little further north, in Trondheim, Eirik Eidsmo is a shop assistant at Varmeforum. He says that many of their customers buy fireplaces as a precaution. – Most people are a little afraid that electricity prices from the south will rise here, because nobody knows, says Eidsmo. Patiphan Phanthumat is a bricklayer for Stavanger Varmesenter and is installing Per Sunde’s new fireplace here. Photo: Marte Skodje / news Critical to wood burning This means money in the coffers for those who sell fireplaces, but not everyone is happy with the development. Sofie Marhaug is a Storting politician for Rødt, she believes the development is paradoxical. – At the same time as we talk about electrifying society, we run the risk of homes being de-electrified, she says. – Firewood is not free either, and local air pollution, especially in cities, can be a problem, says Sofie Marhaug. Photo: Tony Ågotnes / news There may be a shortage of goods But it is by no means certain that everyone who wants a fireplace will get it, at least not without waiting. The knock-on effects after the corona pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine can cause a shortage of goods. Stavanger Varmesenter fears they will get too few goods in the future. – The war in Ukraine also means that we cannot get hold of raw materials to build these ovens. There is a power crisis throughout Europe and the problem arises if the suppliers do not get hold of steel and castings, says Jansen.
ttn-69
Record high electricity prices in southern Norway have prompted more people to get fireplaces – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
