In Kristianstad, two different cases at the Energy Market Inspectorate, Ei, became the basis for a new practice.
Demanded a fee of SEK 1.1 million
The cases involved homeowners who wanted to install solar cells, but were hit with a hefty fee. C4 Elnät AB in Kristianstad demanded a fee of SEK 116,000 from one household and SEK 1.1 million from the other household, to connect the new solar cell installations.
The reason for the expensive fee was, according to the electricity company, that they did not have the capacity to receive the electricity and it needed to be reinforced.
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The electricity company was right in the case
It became a case with the state authority Energy Market Inspection, which made a decision that may now affect several home owners who want to install solar cells in the future.
The villa owners considered that the fee to the electricity company was too high and requested a review from Ei.
In May, Ei decided that C4 Elnät AB was right, and had to charge a fee. However, they felt that the fee they requested was too high. The fee was then reduced to SEK 50,000 and SEK 93,000.
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Swedish Solar Energy critical of the decision
The industry organization Swedish Solar is now critical of the decision.
– We are very critical. Previously, Ei considered that installation of production within existing main fuse does not constitute a new connection and therefore should not be charged a connection fee. Departing from this practice creates unreasonable consequences for the households that trigger a power grid reinforcement, says Oskar Öhrman, technical manager at Svensk Solenergi to Today’s Industry.
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The interpretation of EU law trumps Swedish legislation
The new decision means a new practice, which Swedish Solar Energy now wants to change, so that it will be as before.
Previously, the Electricity Act was followed, which said that households with a subscription for a fuse of no more than 63 amps should not pay any connection fee if they meet certain criteria.
– But there are EU rules which, according to our interpretation, trump the Swedish legislation in these cases, says Jerker Sidén, analyst at Ei who made both decisions Today’s Industry.
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