Today, Erna Solberg’s tour bus drove into the area in the country with the highest electricity prices. With her on the bus, she has a number of proposals to solve today’s demanding situation. – In favor of 90 per cent The Conservative Party proposes to increase the electricity subsidy for people to 90 per cent of all costs over 70 øre already from 1 September. – The state takes in a lot of money for electricity at the moment. This is confiscation of money from Norwegian families and companies, says Solberg. She believes there is now a strong need for increased electricity support. – Everyone thought there would be lower prices and less consumption this summer, but prices have become higher. Especially in Southern and Western Norway. That is why we are in favor of 90 per cent already from September. The Conservative Party is also working on proposals for a number of other measures that can help mitigate the electricity crisis. Among them is an improved proposal for electricity support for small businesses. The electricity bill can take the entire profit. One of the companies that can benefit from this could be Ulefos Jernværk in Telemark, which has existed for 365 years. They have managed that because they are located right here; right by the river. Access to a lot of cheap electricity has always been an advantage. It is no longer like that. Ulefos Jernværk at Ulefoss in Nome municipality. Photo: Ole Oskar Eriksen / news Electricity bills are now 10–12 times higher than two years ago. In September 2020, the company paid NOK 120,000 for the electricity. – Now that bill can be NOK 7-8 million a month, says director Martin Sagen. Director at Ulefos Jernværk, Martin Sagen. Photo: Ole Oskar Eriksen / news A new record price is expected on Thursday. Jernverket at Ulefoss has a turnover of around NOK 400 million a year. With today’s electricity price, 25 per cent of turnover goes directly to electricity. It can still be more expensive. POWER REQUIRING: It takes a lot of electricity to melt iron. Photo: Ole Oskar Eriksen / news Høyre’s solution The current government gets a lot of flak for the expensive electricity. Private individuals, farmers and cultural life receive electricity support. Companies get nothing. Solberg understands that it is a difficult task to provide support without simultaneously creating new problems. But she believes there is an urgent need to help small businesses that are struggling. – It goes too slowly, she says. – The Conservative Party already last winter advocated an electricity subsidy of NOK 2 billion for small businesses. The government has said no to this, says Solberg. Støre says they are considering different solutions for business. The scheme outlined by the Right should apply in areas that now have high electricity prices. With some exceptions. The party wants municipalities with electricity revenues to help local businesses themselves. They can get the money from the increased power income they get with high electricity prices. – Many municipalities and counties are power owners and should return what they earn to people and businesses, she believes. Making money from electricity Bjørg Tveito Lundefaret (Ap) is mayor of the power municipality Nome, where the iron plant is located. She cannot say straight away how much extra they are getting into the municipal coffers now. Labor mayor Bjørg Tveito Lundefaret fears losing jobs. Photo: Ole Oskar Eriksen / news In any case, she does not think the proposal from the Conservative Party is particularly good. – It will be very arbitrary, she says. But she is happy to join a splicing team. – In general, I am very worried about our business life. The figures from Ulefos are appalling, says the mayor. Jernverket is the largest private workplace they have. – We have already reduced the property tax, she says, but admits that it helps little. She believes that solutions must come from the state, not differently from municipality to municipality. She will take that up with the government. It cannot continue At Ulefos Jernværk, they have set the prices for the goods. Then the question is how the market reacts. The competitors have completely different electricity prices. Furnes iron foundry is located in a different electricity area and has at times had half the price of electricity. Manhole covers are produced on an assembly line. Photo: Ole Oskar Eriksen / news And it’s always cheaper somewhere in China. Director Martin Sagen at the Iron and Steel Works believes they will manage. – We only hope for a fair solution for everyone, says Sagen. The way it is now, it cannot continue, he believes.
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The Conservative Party proposes to increase the electricity subsidy from 1 September – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
