During a possible power shortage, rural electricity distribution will be interrupted. There is no concern about sufficient heat, but the price will rise.
Lahti Energia will increase the price of district heating from the beginning of November.
The price of natural gas has increased many times since a year ago, and the demand for domestic fuel has increased. That is why the energy price of district heating increases by almost 16 percent in the winter season.
In single-family houses, the increase means about 12 euros per month, and in apartment buildings, a little more than 5 euros per month.
– This is also illustrated by the fact that we live in truly exceptional times, says Haikarainen.
Haikarainen, however, comforts Lahti Energia’s district heating customers, because elsewhere the price increases are even higher.
– With our investments, we have made the domestic energy utilization rate very high, and we are not as dependent on fossil fuels as many other energy companies.
Haikarainen promises that the company will closely monitor the fuel market, and if the price spike eases, the prices will also be revised downwards.
– At this point, the outlook over the winter is so foggy that no one knows what will happen here.
Although the company mainly uses domestic fuels for the production of district heating, there are still 10 percent fossil fuels. The purpose is to get rid of it completely.
Regulation of electricity for a sparsely populated area
Lahti Energia also prepares for a possible power shortage and power outages caused by it. Decisions on electricity distribution restrictions are made by the grid company Fingrid.
During a possible power shortage in the operating area of the Lahti Energia Sähköverkto, short power cuts would be made in one area at a time in the morning and afternoon hours. The outages would target a sparsely populated area and last for an hour or two at a time.
The electricity would not be cut off in the central area and the agglomeration. The most critical sites of all, such as hospitals and service buildings, are completely excluded from power outages. In the central area, the disadvantages of power cuts would be greater than in the countryside, because the elevators would not be operational.
– The power outages mainly affect single-family houses with electric heating in sparsely populated areas. Then the greatest possible power drop can be achieved with the least inconvenience, says Rautiainen.
If there are power outages, they will be announced with national emergency bulletins. In addition to the company’s social media channels, the information channel in Lahti Energia’s area is Radio Suomi.
Exact information about the power outage area is also provided on Lahti Energia’s website in the disruption notices. The purpose is to inform about power outages well in advance of the outage, i.e. the day before.
– There may also be a situation where we have to cut off the electricity immediately. Then we won’t even have time to warn, Rautiainen states.
A possible power shortage can hit the heart in winter. Rautiainen believes that there is no need for electricity distribution interruptions at least before December.
Residents participate in energy saving talks
You can prepare for a threatening power shortage in advance. The national energy saving campaign \”Astetta alemmas\” starts in October. Every energy saving measure improves the situation. A three-day home supply is a good preparation, especially in a sparsely populated area.
– Reducing energy consumption makes sense. The less energy we consume, the less emissions are produced and the better the money is also enough, says Timonen.
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