Potentially major changes in electricity support have been announced. Based on input from Statistics Norway about how households have received the electricity subsidy and how we use electricity, Støre will make adjustments. The Prime Minister has already announced that the support will be increased to 90 per cent when the electricity price rises above 70 øre per kilowatt hour from 1 September. The government will also work with concrete models for a support scheme for companies struggling with high electricity prices. The goal is an arrangement that is more accurate. But the sums that are taken out of the treasury to cover the electricity subsidy, the industry should contribute to cover it. Director Eirik Frantzen of Nordkraft believes so. – The electricity subsidy is a temporary measure. But a measure that lasts longer than originally thought. – Then it’s simple math: What you take out of the treasury must at one point or another be combined with income, says Frantzen. CLEAR SPEECH: Eirik Frantzen comes up with a proposal that involves extra tax for power producers. Photo: Nordkraft Wants extra tax He is calling for an arrangement that ensures that the state actually has the money needed to be able to provide electricity support in the future. His solution is to introduce a form of tax that affects his own industry. – I am sure that you have to start talking about this. If not, it will not be possible to finance the electricity subsidy. Frantzen’s proposal is more specifically to impose an additional tax for power producers on income they receive from electricity prices above 70 øre per kilowatt hour. The director believes this is fair and reasonable, when you look at what the power producers earn these days. – Some make very good money from the high electricity prices, notes the director. Today, the price of electricity is NOK 4.1 per kilowatt hour in south-west Norway. Against NOK 0.013 in Northern Norway. Frantzen’s proposal therefore does not affect Nordkraft itself. – If you were a producer in the south and not in the north, would you see this as a good solution? – It is important to look outside one’s own nest. I believe that no power producer is unhappy with 70 øre, where the current electricity subsidy is passed on to the consumer. – It’s a pretty good profit already when you get 70 øre per kilowatt hour. This is far beyond what the power producers envisioned a few years ago. Are you a supporter of such an additional tax? Yes No Uncertain Show result Analyst: Bad idea Frantzen believes the Ministry of Finance must look into this. news has been in contact with the ministry for a comment, but has not yet received a reply. NOT CONVINCED: Head of Analysis Tor Reier Lilleholt at Volue Insight. Photo: Asbjørn Odd Berge / news Electricity expert and head of analysis Tor Reier Lilleholt in Volue Insight believes, however, that the state has enough income to be able to handle the electricity subsidy scheme. – Norwegian hydropower is taxed extremely high already, he points out. – Doesn’t the state need to collect income when they have such an arrangement? – There is no lack of money. Statnett also has an enormous income due to the large price differences we see. Skeptical of the whole concept, Lilleholt believes that electricity support schemes should be discussed as a concept. – The challenge is that, with this support, you do not get exposed to the real price. The price is really a good signal as to whether to stimulate extra production of power – or reduce consumption, he continues. So: When prices are high, you should also use less electricity. – I believe that consumers must take part of the responsibility for the power situation, and not put all the blame on the producers. Everyone has a bit to go on, both in terms of hot water and heating, Lilleholt believes. The interest organization for the renewables industry, Energi Norge, did not want to be interviewed. But information manager Aslak Øverås writes the following in an e-mail: – The state already has many billions in extraordinary income from hydropower, through taxes, fees and dividends. This is more than enough to cover the electricity subsidy, and we therefore see no need to introduce any additional tax. – It will also slow down the development of more renewable energy, which we will need a lot of in the coming years – also to bring down electricity prices in southern Norway to a more normal level.
ttn-69
– Earn so much that you are embarrassed – news Nordland
