The power company Eon continues to significantly raise electricity network fees. In August, they will be raised in several parts of the country, with the highest increase in Stockholm. And this is just the beginning.
There will be more increases, says Gustav Wengen, department head at Eon.
In the Stockholm area, Eon raised the fee by 12 percent at the turn of the year. And from August 1st this year, they will raise it by another 9 percent. The electricity network company will thus raise the fee by almost 22 percent this year.
In central and southern Sweden, including Örebro, Småland, Halland, and Skåne, the electricity network fee will be raised by 6 percent in August. And at the turn of the year, the fee was raised by 9 percent.
According to Eon itself, this is due to increased costs.
We have an explosive demand for both electricity and electricity connections. And that requires large investments, says Gustav Wengen, department head at Eon.
And the costs of investments have increased, partly due to inflation and significantly increased material costs.
Criticism of the increase
Björn Berggren, energy expert at the Swedish Public Utilities – believes this is not true.
The real reason is that they want to get more revenue and make more money. That's my opinion.
According to the Swedish Public Utilities, the price increases will mean an increase of approximately 760 kronor per year for those living in an apartment building in the Stockholm area, and a price increase of 675 kronor per year in central and southern Sweden.
Sweden's electricity grid is a natural monopoly, and it is the electricity network companies themselves that set their prices. Therefore, the Energy Market Inspectorate sets the framework for how much electricity network companies can charge, so-called revenue caps.
Recently, the revenue caps were changed, allowing electricity network companies to raise prices by an additional 40 percent over the next three years. And some may be able to raise prices even more.
More price increases to come
The Energy Market Inspectorate believes it is too early to say how many percent Eon can raise prices by. But according to the Swedish Public Utilities' calculations, Eon may be able to raise prices by over 60 percent.
It's likely that they will do so. They have already raised prices by 22 percent in one year, says Björn Berggren.
According to Gustav Wengen from Eon, more price increases will come in the future. But he cannot say how much.
I can say that there will be more increases, but not to that extent. We have not made any decisions yet.
Since last year, the other two major companies, Vattenfall, have raised electricity network prices by 12 percent, and Ellevio has lowered their prices by 17 percent.
Karin Rader/TT
Facts: How much more expensive electricity network fees will become
TT
In Eon's price area Stockholm, the electricity network fee will increase by 764 kronor per year for those living in apartment buildings.
In Eon's price area South, which includes Skåne, Blekinge, Halland, Småland, Östra Götaland, and Örebro, the electricity network fee will increase by 675 kronor per year, for those living in apartment buildings.
In Eon's price area North, the electricity network fee will not be raised.
Source: Swedish Public Utilities
