– Per Olaf Lundteigen’s recipe has been to be critical of all government cooperation that Sp has been a part of, ever since we both entered the Storting in 1993. With that, the party’s parliamentary leader hits back strongly against Sp veteran Per Olaf Lundteigen, who to news said that voters have now lost confidence that the government will be able to solve the electricity price crisis. In this interview, Marit Arnstad tells how the Center Party will win in government with measures that move electricity policy in a “national direction” and reduce price contagion from Europe. But in order to take one step forward, she is prepared to take one step back. The detour of yet another government-appointed committee is, according to the SP summit, absolutely necessary. She wants clear system changes and compares the committee’s work to house building. – But you should have some drawings on it before you start. We must be absolutely sure how these measures work in practice, says Sp-top Marit Arnstad. PLAN: Sp parliamentary leader Marit Arnstad, here together with party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, asks to be believed that the electricity price crisis can be resolved with Sp at the helm. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB – House building requires drawings After weeks of speculation, the government yesterday put forward new measures to overcome sky-high electricity prices. These are the changes to the electricity subsidy On 15 February, the Government put forward the following changes to the electricity subsidy: The scheme will be extended until 2024. The electricity subsidy for agriculture, cultural life and volunteers will also be extended until 2024. An hourly calculation for electricity subsidy will be introduced instead of the current monthly scheme. This scheme will probably not be introduced until 1 September at the earliest. The electricity subsidy is increased to 90 per cent above 70 øre per kilowatt hour also in the summer months. The measure that Arnstad highlights is the same one that was ridiculed by the opposition: An expert committee, which will look at how electricity prices are created. – Now we will look at various system changes that may affect price fixing over time, said Finance Minister and SP leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum at Wednesday’s press conference. But the reactions indicate that the government’s package would rather calm the mood in its own ranks. There will be new discussions when Vedum meets Lundteigen at the annual meeting of Buskerud Sp on Friday. – We don’t need more selections. All stones are turned. Action is lacking, Lundteigen told news on Thursday morning. – I believe that the committee is doing what Per Olaf Lundteigen is asking for, replies Arnstad. – And perhaps the most important thing is that we see some major changes in the EU’s own energy policy. We see the contours of EU countries thinking about national energy policy in a new way, she continues. In an interview with news during Christmas, Arnstad opened up about a two-price model, where the foreign cables become a separate price range. Now she states that this will be a central theme for the new selection, in addition to two other concrete matters: Investigate a separate price range around the cables. Look at the possibility of reduced exports when you get below the median filling of the magazines. A third question is whether Norway can take electricity away from the spot market, away from the stock exchange, and offer it at lower and more predictable prices. CRITICAL: SP veteran Per Olaf Lundteigen believes people have lost confidence in the government’s ability to solve the electricity price crisis. Photo: Trond Stenersen – Have you not received an answer to this before, that it is not possible to use price considerations as a reason to reduce exports? – No, I don’t think we have that. Although Kjetil Lund says one thing, at the same time Finn Arnesen says something else when it comes to the possibility of doing things within the scope of action for the EEA. In August, NVE chief Kjetil Lund stated that the EEA agreement allows for export restrictions when relevant considerations dictate it. – In our view, security of supply is such a relevant consideration, while protection against high prices is not, he added to NTB. At the same time, EEA expert Finn Arnesen at the University of Oslo has not closed the door to the possibility of establishing a two-price model, where the foreign cables form a separate price range, without coming into conflict with the EEA agreement. – No mistake This week, both Lundteigen and Indre Østfold mayor Saxe Frøshaug have demanded stronger lye in the fight against expensive electricity. Frøshaug, who also leads SP’s mayors’ network, believes the pain threshold is 60 øre per kilowatt hour. Lundteigen believes that 70 øre must be the maximum price. – When it comes to the maximum price, I actually disagree with Frøshaug and Lundteigen. SP’s storting group has a decision that we are not in favor of a maximum price. The reason is that we believe that the maximum price will not encourage energy efficiency, says Arnstad. – Lundteigen says Sp has failed in relation to what the election was about? – I completely disagree with that. – Why? – We still stand for increased national control over power. We still stand by our belief that electricity prices should be more reasonable in Norway than in the countries around us. The big question is, after all, the search for the means that can actually contribute to achieving it. – But have you delivered on these points so far? – We have had long discussions about it, and I think we are now in the group you need to be in. Namely, getting the expert committee to review exactly the points that many of us have been concerned about. Defends the cooperation While Lundteigen believes that the SP must clearly challenge the Labor Party in order to gain room to challenge the EEA regulations, Arnstad defends the cooperation: – If we had sat in opposition, there would not have been a majority for a number of the things we wanted wanted, she says – and cites two examples: – Without SP in government, Buskerud would not have become its own county again and we would have had a much worse agricultural settlement, to name a few. – The measurements are as they are. Doesn’t that show that Lundteigen is right when he says that people have lost confidence in the government’s ability to handle the electricity price crisis? – No, I believe that the measurements reflect that Norway is in a very demanding situation. And that there is frustration linked to price increases, electricity prices and interest rate increases, I understand that. It is linked to the power situation, but not only the power situation. – Can you guarantee that you will fulfill the Hurdal platform – that Norway will have predictably stable and lower electricity prices than today, and that you will have competitive prices compared to Sweden, Germany and others? – Yes, that is definitely the goal we at Sp are working towards. Of course. But it takes a little longer, and I think that also frustrates many.
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– We disagree – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
