Valkeakoski plans new rules after energy company Italy trip
Friday 18th September 2026 on 08:45 in
Finland
Valkeakoski plans to amend its corporate governance guidelines after a nine-person trip to Italy by the management and board of the city-owned Valkeakosken Energia energy company drew criticism, Yle reports.
The trip lasted several days and took place last week. The group included members of the company’s board, Chief Executive Olli-Pekka Marttila and his deputy.
Marttila and board chair Sari Ilovuori declined to comment on the details of the trip, saying they could not discuss the company’s internal affairs. Their written response to the city said the board had a long tradition of annual meeting trips and had previously travelled outside Finland, although not more than once during a council term.
The response did not state where in Italy the group travelled or how much the trip cost. The company said its previous overseas meeting trip had taken place about 10 years ago.
The trip prompted criticism in the city administration because Valkeakoski’s finances are under pressure. The city cut 30 positions after co-operation negotiations last year, but its financial situation remains difficult.
Marko Erola, the first deputy chair of the city board, said he could not see how the trip would benefit the business of a small local energy company. He described the use of public funds for overseas meeting and study trips as difficult to accept in the city’s current financial situation.
The city board did not add the matter to its agenda after a majority voted against a proposal to discuss it. Erola and two other representatives of the National Coalition Party submitted dissenting opinions.
City Manager Minna Uschanoff said the current corporate governance guidelines did not require the company’s operational management to seek guidance from the city on an overseas trip of this kind. She added that politicians could still consider the trip inappropriate.
City board chair Joni Kumlander has asked officials to examine how the guidelines could be amended to address company representatives’ overseas travel. The city board will decide on the change. The current guidelines do not mention such trips.