– We have far too high electricity costs. We try to save and turn off lights and machines when we can, says general manager Peder Fredrik Jørgensen at Baker Jørgensen. Things are going like hot cakes at the bakery in Arendal on the second day of the political festival Arendalsuka. The baker in Arendal has a lot to do during Arendal Week. Photo: Victoria Marie Nordahl / news Despite the fact that this is one of the best weeks of the year for the bakery, it is still no holiday for the economy. In the last six months, the baker has paid NOK 1.1 million in electricity bills. That is over three times as much as in a normal year. – The reality is that we don’t make money, says Jørgensen. New price record for electricity And it will probably be more expensive. On Tuesday, a new price record was set for South-West Norway with an average price of NOK 4.39 per kWh, according to NTB. But until Wednesday, the wheat pastry at Baker Jørgensen will be even more expensive to produce. Jørgensen says that they have already raised the price by 14 percent this year. In a normal year, the increase is usually 3 percent. Photo: Victoria Marie Nordahl / news Then the 24-hour price for electricity will be NOK 4.9 per kWh in South-West Norway. It is a new record. – If things don’t become more stable, we will have to raise the price. We don’t want that. So far this year, we have had two price increases, and I have never experienced that before, says Peder Fredrik Jørgensen. Urgent convening of the Storting On Tuesday morning, the presidency decided that the elected representatives will meet several weeks before the Storting formally opens. The goal is to find a solution to, among other things, Baker Jørgensen’s problems. – The power situation is serious. The government takes it very seriously, and so does the Storting. Now we will work together for Norwegian citizens and the business world in the times we are in, says Storting President Masud Gharahkhani (Ap). Gharahkhani tells of the unanimous presidency to call the Storting. Photo: William Jobling / news The date for the meeting has not been decided, but it will take place during September. Hope business gets support now – I hope there will be a support scheme now, so we can all sleep a little better at night, says general manager Peder Fredrik Jørgensen. He shows news the electricity bills from July last year and July this year: July 2021: NOK 79,300 July 2022: NOK 242,500 Baker Jørgensen shows the electricity bills to news which show the large increase in costs. Photo: Victoria Marie Nordahl / news – The consequences are that this is not sustainable. Then we have to look at other options or take out a loan, says Jørgensen. I wish the meeting had been earlier The opposition in the Storting believes that the maximum price may be the way to go. – I wish we could meet earlier. We can no longer sit and watch this crisis, says leader Sylvi Listhaug in the Progressive Party. – I am happy that the Storting will convene, says Listhaug. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB Leader of Rødt, Bjørnar Moxnes, tells news that he believes the Storting should convene immediately. – The government has no goal of reducing the price, only compensation. There is no permanent solution, says Moxnes. The leader of the Red party thinks it is good that the Storting is now meeting to discuss the electricity crisis. Photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB Promises a scheme by October Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap), says the government is working to put in place an aid scheme for business. – We must have this scheme ready when the national budget is presented in October at the latest. He emphasizes that it is important to find a scheme that is reliable, so that companies that do not need the support profit from it. The Minister of Oil and Energy promises that an arrangement will be in place by October. Photo: Lise Åserud Uncertain work day At Baker Jørgensen’s bakery, the oven has been running all night to make enough buns and bread for today’s customers. Chef at the bakery, Jan Oddvar Fossnes, takes a breather after a long night’s work. He says that they do everything they can to save on electricity costs. Among other things, they try to avoid wearing too many machines at the same time. Fossnes says that all the employees do what they can to reduce electricity consumption. Photo: Victoria Marie Nordahl / news – When the current increases so much, it is clear that it affects the entire company, including our employees. It characterizes the working day.
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The baker’s electricity bill tripled in one year – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
