The warning for winter: The electricity can be switched off

The war in Ukraine has major effects on the energy market.

Russia's reduced supply of gas has an indirect effect on Sweden.

The consequence may be that some electricity users have the power cut off to save the system as a whole from collapsing.

In concrete terms, this means that an area is switched off, which Dagens Nyheter was the first to report on.

- Power outages are something that occurs.

It's something we can live with and cope with, this is a bit the same thing.

The difference is that on these occasions we would have exceptionally high electricity prices, says Niclas Damsgaard to SVT.

Within 15 minutes

The shutdown can be done manually or automatically.

When the order arrives, the regional network companies have 15 minutes to execute it.

Niclas Damsgaard has difficulty predicting exactly when a suspension may take place.

These are probably the hours when consumption is at its highest – early mornings, late afternoons, when it's really cold or wind production is low.

- Typically speaking, if it were to happen for several hours, you will have a so-called rotating disconnection.

You disconnect a group of customers for a certain time and then they get the electricity back.

According to Niclas Damsgaard, it will likely be preceded by signs in the form of high prices the day before.

- I think that all customers will be aware that the risk exists if this were to come up.

SE4 extra exposed

The electricity area SE4, which includes southernmost Sweden - Skåne, Blekinge and Kronoberg counties, and parts of Halland, Jönköping and Kalmar counties - is particularly vulnerable because the area is dependent on imports.

But also the Stockholm SE3 electricity area can be affected.

Sweden is divided into four electricity price areas.

Photo: SVT Design

There are ready-made plans for how a possible disconnection will take place.

The eight-step priority ladder starts with users who in the short term are of great importance to life and health and "other electricity users" at the bottom.

Is there anything you can do as an individual consumer?

- As a consumer, you can review what opportunities you have to control your consumption.

Controlling heating during these most expensive hours, for example.

Then you can both save money and help make the entire power system less strained with a small contribution for each.

If everyone does it, it can have an impact.