The parties will do this to reduce the price of electricity – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
The autumn prices for electricity have jumped to the highest ever for the inhabitants of southern Norway. One panel stove has cost 60 kroner to keep going for one day at most.
The price level for Norwegians is now hurting, the opposition in the Storting believes. But in order to actually prepare to do Norwegians’ electricity bill, a majority in the Storting must be someone about measures:
- The Conservatives will try to get a majority for an urgent increase in housing benefits and social assistance.
- The Progress Party will increase housing support, at the same time as the electricity tax and VAT will be removed throughout the year and reduced in 2022.
- SV, Rødt, KrF and Venstre will also increase housing support.
All proposals are put forward early today and must be voted on tomorrow.
Want a VAT cut for the rest of the year
FRP leader Sylvi Listhaug believes the high electricity prices are due to failed climate policy, with exports of Norwegian electricity abroad, and new power cables to the oil platforms.
– This goes beyond ordinary people. Therefore, we believe that both the electricity tax and VAT on electricity must be removed throughout the year in the first instance, she tells NRK.
The FRP will also have reduced electricity tax and VAT next year and asks the government to submit a proposal on this no later than in its so-called supplementary number to the state budget.
In the additional issue, which will be available by mid-November, the Labor / Socialist Government will present its changes to next year’s budget, which the outgoing government presented recently.
Not clarified
The governing parties are also announcing action, but do not currently provide any guarantees.
– The short-term measures will be the government in the community control, to see what can make as many slippers as possible to worry that they will get an electricity bill in the lap that they can not pay, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Marte Mjøs Persen (Labor) to NRK.
The Center Party’s energy and environmental policy spokesman Ole André Myhrvold points out that there is a predicted and very demanding electricity market over the winter.
– Then it is important to put in place emergency measures for those who struggle the most. It can be done both through the housing benefit scheme, reduced electricity tax and VAT, he says to NRK.
Listhaug points out that the Labor Party and the Socialist People’s Party in the election campaign promised tax cuts for ordinary people.
– When we now present this proposal in the Storting on Wednesday morning, we will see if there are only empty promises, or if they are the only ones with us in that the fees will actually go down.
The Conservatives believe in a breakthrough for housing benefits
The Conservatives will try to get a majority in favor of an urgent increase in housing benefits.
– It must not be the case that those who have particularly bad advice must turn off the heat at home, says labor and social policy spokesman Henrik Asheim to NRK.
He will not wait for the government’s announced crisis help, but force through an urgent scheme that will work immediately.
He demands that the Støre government increase the housing subsidy, which about 90,000 Norwegians receive through the Housing Bank. In Oslo you have to earn less than 22,000 kroner to get help.
– We put forward concrete proposals where we can govern to return to the Storting before they come with their new state budget, so that they can already now propose to improve both housing benefits and social assistance for households with particularly poor advice to deal with rising electricity prices .
– If this is so urgent, why did I not do something about this before the Conservatives left the government offices?
– Now we have just had a change of government, and we have also presented a statistics budget that lowers the electricity tax by 1.5 øre. We already warned then that this could be relevant, if electricity prices continue to be high.
Men what works best?
Power analyst Tor Reier Lilleholt is in no doubt about what will work best in the short term:
– Cuts in the electricity tax are minimal amounts in relation to the income you now get with these high electricity prices, he says to NRK.
Lilleholt points out that the electricity tax can be cut far more than the 1.5 øre proposed by the Solberg government.
– I think the redistribution policy is the most important thing to do. You get income here, which you can redistribute, Lilleholt assures.
He emphasizes that power prices are even higher abroad than in Norway, and that the price records in this country have so far not led to lower consumption.
Controversial exports
For Sp, the challenge has been a struggle to do something about Norwegian power exports.
– In the Hurdal platform, it is stated that the government will investigate how power exports affect security of supply and electricity prices, Myhrvold says.
– We must return to concrete measures that can help ensure that Norwegian renewable energy remains and a competitive advantage for Norwegian industry and Norwegian consumers, he says.
It can also be quick to build new international connections during this parliamentary term. At the same time, the power co-operation will be continued, but governs in a way that is in line with Norway’s interests.
Lilleholt believes, however, that it is unrealistic in the short term to do something with the system of foreign cables and power exchange.
– It is very difficult, he says and adds:
– It is most important that you do not override that market mechanism.
“Powerful measures”
The Hurdal platform states that the government will “design several powerful measures to reduce high electricity costs”.
Among the measures mentioned are lower taxes, greater housing support, geographical price equalization of grid rent, strengthening consumer rights and greater production of Norwegian power.
– When will we get an answer from the government on what to do in the short term?
– We will contact you in the next few days and weeks. Then we come back to it when we see what will be most accurate, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Marte Mjøs Persen.
She notifies measures both directly on the electricity bill and for those who need it the most and mentions housing support.
– Cuts in electricity tax and VAT, these are quite expensive measures, this?
– Yes, these are expensive measures, but then we must also remember that we get increased income when electricity prices are high. It is not unreasonable for any of this to benefit consumers in one form or another.
She also points out that the government’s policy for redistribution is not just about electricity, but also about cheaper daycare and after-school care.