Power plants produce less electricity to save tax – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio

– They say “we will make as much money as possible, we want to have the largest possible dividend”. But that is not taking social responsibility, says deputy mayor in Evje and Hornnes municipality Finn Bjørn Rørvik (H). He is upset that hydropower plants are deliberately underutilized in order to save land rent tax. A conscious choice At the weekend, the Fennefoss power plant opened in Evje and Hornnes municipality in Agder. The power plant has cost around NOK 350 million. CEO of Å Energi Steffen Syvertsen admits that the new power plant does not produce as much energy as it could have. It is to save tax. – For us, it is a financial and business assessment. If we hadn’t done it that way, there wouldn’t have been a power plant at all. Power stations with less generator power than 10 MVA escape this tax. Steffen Syvertsen from Å Energi and Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland during the weekend’s opening of the Fennefoss power plant. Photo: Pål Tegnander / news – Prevents cheaper electricity for most people The new power plant will produce renewable energy for 3,000 homes. Syvertsen in Å Energi believes it is the government’s tax scheme that prevents more affordable renewable electricity for most people. For the first half of 2023, Å Energi’s operating profit is NOK 4,202 million. In September, the government proposed an increase in the ground rent tax on hydropower, which will increase tax revenue by around NOK 11 billion a year. – An important part will be to ensure that the values ​​that come from our natural resources must be distributed more fairly than today, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre last autumn. CEO of Å Energi, Steffen Syvertsen, says that Fennefoss power plant will not be profitable if they have to pay ground rent tax. Photo: Pål Tegnander / news – The producers have a responsibility Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) believes that the power producers have a responsibility to utilize the capacity in the waterways that are being developed. – I think they should utilize the amount of water and the opportunities in the watercourse in which operations are allowed. Aasland participated in the opening of the Fennefoss power grid at the weekend. He then pointed to renewable energy as the key to our future. – It is important that enough power is ensured. But it is also important that those who have made enormous amounts of money, in a time of extremely high prices, let the community take a rightful share of it, says the minister.



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