– Electricity prices are too high. Our ambition is for them to go down and I am confident that we will manage that. This is what Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says to news on New Year’s Eve. However, it is not clear how the prices will decrease. But the government is doing everything it can to reduce electricity prices in Norway in the coming year, emphasizes Støre. – We turn over all stones, says the Prime Minister. Støre nevertheless warns that any measures must not compromise the security of supply for Norwegian electricity customers. – Sometimes we need power from outside and we don’t want to end up in a situation with rationing, he says. The government is looking at several possible models to reduce electricity prices. – I have not seen any models until now that meet the requirements we have to make, says Jonas Gahr Støre. Photo: Jorunn Hatling / news The electricity subsidy continues The Prime Minister points out, among other things, that the government will continue the electricity subsidy scheme and will make it easier for companies to reach fixed price agreements. – We must take good care of the electricity support scheme. And then we will make fixed price agreements work for the companies. They can then enter into long agreements at an affordable price. But the high electricity prices have also led to debate within the governing parties about how to bring prices down. This week Sp-top Marit Arnstad came out and said that greater political regulation of the market could be a possibility. Among other things, Arnstad will look at how pricing is done in the power market. – The question is whether it is possible to have different pricing for domestic consumption and export of power abroad. This can happen, for example, by establishing a separate price range around the foreign cables, she says. Støre: – Well equipped for the winter The Prime Minister will not say whether such a “top price system” is the way to go. – I have not seen any models until now that meet the requirements we have to make, he says. – There is an openness to looking at models that can serve us well. And then we have to investigate them properly. We do not want to end up in a situation where we have a deficit in power and can be rationed. The whole of Europe is working to bring electricity prices down, continues Støre. – We are connected to the countries around us and that is important for Norwegian security of supply. We have a weatherproof power system. But all countries are looking at how they can bring prices down. There is plenty of water in Norwegian reservoirs, explains Støre. Norway’s electricity supply is thus prepared for the coming months, he believes. – We are confident that we will get through this winter well, says the Prime Minister.
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– We must bring the prices down – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
