Installment plans for customers who find it difficult to pay their entire electricity bill directly must be in place by the November bill at the latest, says Sweden's Finance Minister Mikael Damberg (S) at a press conference on Thursday.
- We see that such a measure is needed in this situation because the ultimate consequence for those who cannot pay the electricity bill is usually that the electricity is turned off.
Prices at record levels
Russia's major invasion of Ukraine and the declared energy war that the Kremlin is waging against Europe have led to increased economic uncertainty throughout the world, the finance minister continues.
- The war and Russia's actions in the energy markets, which started already a year ago, have meant that the prices of electricity are now at levels that we have not seen in Europe before.
"Complementary action"
Damberg emphasizes that the government's focus is to reduce electricity prices and costs.
- We are working to ensure that high-cost protection can be paid out as soon as possible.
This is a complementary measure to build in additional safeguards for people to survive the winter.
Isn't there a risk of getting people into a debt trap?
- The big risk is that some households with very small margins cannot actually come up with the money for an electricity bill.
To then actually be able to spread out the costs while waiting for the high-cost protection to arrive, I think it is a wise way to work, Damberg answers.