Fixed price agreements combined with the current electricity subsidy scheme means that more Norwegians earn more money, the higher the spot price is. In various Facebook groups, people are invited to charge their car for free at their neighbour’s, something that both parties actually enjoy. The owner of the charger uses more, while the neighbor uses less current. Others again “fire for the crows” to take advantage of the system. Terje Hamre in Norwegian Family Economy explained the pitfall as follows when news discussed the phenomenon in August: – The government covers 90 per cent of what is over 70 øre. Then they do not look at the power agreement for the individual, but the entire area. Those who have tied the electricity to a fixed price will get their money back when the electricity is so expensive, he explained. Terje Hamre, Norwegian Family Economy. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – It is important that everyone follows up The practice is not a ban, but Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland still thinks it is an inappropriate attitude. – It is not right to deliberately exploit a system. The agreement was created precisely so that we can reduce the consequences of extremely high electricity prices, he says. The arrangement came into place shortly after the new government was formed. – It was important for us to quickly ensure that the extremely high electricity prices were reduced, and that people got reduced electricity costs. That scheme has contributed to that. Then it is important that everyone follows up, and does not take advantage of the system, he believes. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has reviewed the number of households linked to fixed price agreements. – There are very few. If we are to follow up every single one, it means using a lot of resources to handle it. We have said that this is a scheme established with confidence that people will use it in a good way. I also think that most people actually do that, says the minister. Check today’s electricity prices here: Halt of fixed price agreements Energi Noreg organizes the majority of electricity suppliers in Norway. They learn that there is a small proportion of electricity customers who have a fixed price agreement. Nor do they have the impression that this is a widespread problem. In principle, they will warn people against exploiting the system in this way. Aslak Øverås, information manager at Energi Noreg. Photo: Christel Nordhagen / Energi Norge – We have Europe’s most generous power support scheme, which costs the community over NOK 30 billion this year. Misuse of the scheme can lead to the authorities wanting to tighten it, says Aslak Øverås. The company Fjordkraft is one of the largest power suppliers in the industry. They are aware that there are various Facebook groups where various solutions are discussed, but the company has not experienced this as a problem. In March, they stopped selling fixed-price agreements to private customers in southern Norway, and today have relatively few private customers on such agreements. Conscious waste of electricity, they still have little left over. – We agree that it is unfortunate if someone deliberately wastes electricity in order to make money from a government support scheme, says communications advisor Jon Eikeland.
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Aasland asks people to stop using the electricity subsidy – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
