The CEO of Företagarna, Magnus Demervall, criticizes Svenska kraftnät for holding 85 billion kronor in unused congestion revenues and compares the agency to Scrooge McDuck. He calls for more investments and lower grid fees to ease high electricity costs for households and businesses. Forecasts indicate February will be the most expensive month for electricity in modern times.
Magnus Demervall, CEO of the business organization Företagarna, voices strong criticism against Svenska kraftnät in an interview with Expressen. He highlights that the agency has collected 168 billion kronor in congestion revenues from Swedish electricity customers since 2020, with 85 billion kronor remaining unused at year-end. These revenues arise from price differences between areas where electricity transmission is not possible.
Demervall argues that Svenska kraftnät is hoarding money and hiding behind regulations. 'Svenska kraftnät behaves almost like Scrooge McDuck,' he says, adding: 'It is fully possible to start more projects' and 'lower fees for underlying regional and local grids.' According to him, the government can direct the agency more firmly to benefit consumers.
Svenska kraftnät responds through deputy director general Peter Wigert that regulations limit reinvestments, which may take up to ten years. 'We are doing everything we can to return them as soon as possible,' Wigert tells SR's Ekot. The agency is working to keep grid fees down and expand the electricity market for better balancing.
High electricity costs are hitting hard, according to a Företagarna survey. About one in five companies is pausing investments, and the equivalent of 15,000 businesses plan to lay off staff. Forecasts from Godel show the average electricity price for February at 112 öre per kilowatt-hour across Sweden, the highest ever for a February. Prices are expected to drop by 34–49 percent in March depending on the pricing area. The annual average is estimated at 57 öre per kilowatt-hour.
Demervall also criticizes the EU proposal to use Swedish congestion revenues for grids in other countries and calls for reduced electricity taxes.
