Finnish family faces absurd electricity bills for winter cottage in Ruovesi

Every autumn, the Helenius family prepares their summer cottage for winter by disconnecting the electricity and leaving the property unused during the colder months. Yet, they continue to receive monthly electricity bills. “It’s really absurd. The electricity bill for the cottage is twice as expensive as at home, despite using only half the energy,” says Heimo Helenius. This issue stems from the fixed base fee for electricity distribution, which entails two charges: one based on consumption and another for electricity transfer.

Currently, Elenia charges a transfer base fee of €22.80 per month for Helenius’s cottage in Ruovesi, while the fee for his home in Tampere is only €4.80. On top of this, there is an additional fee based on energy consumption. “We can manage and cope with the costs, but it’s unreasonable to be charged for transfer when there is no electricity usage,” Helenius adds.

Many Finns share similar frustrations regarding transfer fees, which often constitute a significant portion of their electricity bills. A recent survey gathered over 200 responses detailing the common grievances, including sharp price increases and the monopolistic control of energy companies.

Helenius, who notes that electricity distribution cannot be tendered out or chosen, questions why Finland has so many electrical companies that set their transfer prices independently. “Electricity is a basic necessity, yet the current system places citizens at a disadvantage,” he states.

Other residents echo these sentiments. One retiree spoke of being unable to afford living alone due to high transfer fees, while another compared the cost of transfer fees to be more than buying tires for a car. The article concludes by inviting readers to share their opinions on electricity distribution fees.