The government provides electricity subsidies to households to deal with the high electricity prices. The scheme applies to primary residences and secondary residences. That is, for the home you live in, and possibly other homes you own that are not considered leisure property. The scheme therefore does not apply to your cabin. Norway’s Cabin Association has been in contact with lawyers since this summer, and has long considered a lawsuit against the state. Now they believe that they may have found a basis for the lawsuit in Section 98 of the Constitution: “All are equal before the law.” No person must be subjected to unfair or disproportionate discrimination.” – The state may have broken the law because there is unfair discrimination between secondary homes and holiday homes in the electricity subsidy scheme, says Trond Gullik Hagen, head of Norway’s Cabin Association. May have found grounds for the lawsuit The Norwegian Cabin Association has engaged the law firm Økland & Co. Lawyer and general manager, Audun Ludvig Bollerud confirms that they have been commissioned to investigate whether there are grounds for taking legal action. They have now notified the union that they may have a case in this section of the constitution. – The Constitution prohibits discrimination. Then there is the question of whether cottage owners are discriminated against at the expense of ordinary villa and apartment owners. When we started to see a little INVESTIGATOR: Lawyer Audun Ludvig Bollerud investigates the case for the union. He believes that one must look at the use of leisure properties and secondary homes and that one might say that the state treats the owners of these differently. Photo: Law firm Økland & Co looked into it more closely and it turned out that there may be a basis, says Bollestad. He emphasizes that they have not yet assessed the matter. They have made a preliminary recommendation and will investigate further before making their recommendation on whether or not to sue. What they are looking at is whether it is fair that those with so-called secondary homes should receive support and not those who have a cabin. – You have to think about what a cabin is and whether it is located in a cabin area or a residential area. There are also people who have cabins in the form of an apartment in Oslo, but which are then regulated and end up as a secondary home, says Bollerud. Believes the arrangement is fair. The Cottage Association has sent a letter to the state in the hope of getting a solution that includes holiday homes in the electricity subsidy. Hagen expects the government to make changes for the cabin owners as soon as possible. – We expect the government to rectify the mistake they have made by treating holiday homes differently. On the other hand, Terje Aasland (Ap), who is the Minister of Oil and Energy, believes that they are on safe ground as the electricity subsidy scheme is now. He says it’s fair. – The way the situation is now, a subsidy per household is the right thing and that is what we have arranged for. It also means that the cottagers get reduced electricity costs in their own homes. That is what matters, says Terje Aasland. He says he has registered that the Norwegian Cabin Association is dissatisfied and will consider a lawsuit. – Then they may do it if they think it is right. But for our part, we believe that support for a household is right, he says.
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Trond Gullik Hagen of Norway’s Cottage Association believes the government may have broken the constitution with electricity subsidies – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
