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Demokratiskolan
The Energy card from MethodKit for Society and Politics
Card 21 of 128 · MethodKit for Society & Politics
  • AreaEnvironment & resources
  • Centre of gravityCentral government
  • Points of influence2 on the journey
  • Decisive electionThe general election
Environment & resources

Energy

Energy sources, efficiency & types

The electricity in your wall socket is the end point of one of Sweden's most debated chains of power. The central government owns the framework and the national grid through Svenska kraftnät, the EU ties the electricity market together, the municipality (kommun) can stop a wind farm with its veto, and your electricity price depends on which price area you live in. Energy policy shows up in your wallet every month.

Where does the power lie?1

  • Municipality · veto, heating & energy companies · approx 25 %
  • State · framework, national grid & permits · approx 50 %
  • EU · electricity market & renewables targets · approx 25 %

The central government holds the legislation, the national grid and the permit assessment, but the municipality's veto can bring down a wind farm. The general election decides the direction of energy policy.

How it works: the breakdown

The municipalityThe veto & the heating
The regionOn the side
Central governmentThe framework & the grid · centre of gravity
Who decides?
The municipal council (kommunfullmäktige), the environmental and building committees, and the municipal energy companies.
The region has no formal role in the energy system.
The Riksdag, the Government, the Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten), Svenska kraftnät and the environmental assessment delegations at the County Administrative Boards (Länsstyrelsen).
What do they decide?
Approval or veto for wind power, district heating, municipal energy planning, and often the electricity grid through its own companies.
No formal role, but electricity supply is weighed into regional development planning.
The Electricity Act and energy policy, the national grid, the price areas and the permit assessment of large facilities.
Where are decisions made?
In the municipal council, often after heated local debate.
In the regional council (regionfullmäktige), when energy touches the development strategy.
In the Riksdag, at the agencies and in the environmental assessment delegations at the County Administrative Boards.
Who pays?
The energy companies' charges and municipal tax.
Nothing of the energy system.
The central government budget and the grid fees. The national grid is paid for through your electricity bill.
Fastest way in?
Municipal election The municipal election steers the veto. Have your say when wind power plans are put on display.
Regional election The regional election affects energy questions only indirectly.
General election The general election steers energy policy. Public consultations (samråd) are held ahead of large grid and power projects.
EUThe EU ties together the internal electricity market and sets targets for renewable energy. The rules from there reach all the way to your electricity meter. Influenced in the European Parliament election.

Read the table by column to understand one level, or by row to compare the levels. The green level is the area's centre of gravity.

How it works: follow the decision

The case A wind farm is assessed
  1. EU

    The EU sets the targets

    The EU's targets for renewable energy and the rules for the common electricity market drive expansion across the whole union. Where the power is built, however, is decided in Sweden.

  2. State

    The company applies for a permit

    A larger wind farm requires a permit under the Environmental Code. The environmental assessment delegation at the County Administrative Board examines the application, and before that the company must hold a public consultation (samråd) with everyone concerned. The decision can be appealed to the land and environment court, and onward to the Land and Environment Court of Appeal, by neighbours, affected parties and certain environmental organisations.

    Point of influence

    The consultation is open to local residents and associations. Your comments become part of the documentation.

  3. Municipality

    The municipality says yes or no

    Without the municipal council's approval there is no permit, this is known as the municipal veto. Few decisions show as clearly how much local power there is in energy policy.

    Point of influence

    The veto is decided by your local politicians. The municipal election and local opinion weigh heavily.

  4. State

    The power is connected to the grid

    Svenska kraftnät is responsible for the national grid that moves electricity through the country. Sweden is divided into four electricity price areas, and where the production is located affects the price where you live.

  5. Your everyday life

    The electricity bill lands

    Your electricity price reflects the whole chain: the EU's market, the central government's grid, the municipality's veto. The next time the price is discussed, you know which decisions lie behind it.

The journey looks the same in reverse: what has been built came the same way, through the same decisions. Whoever knows where the decisions are made also knows where they can be changed.

Questions to discuss

  1. Should municipalities be able to stop wind power with a veto, or should national needs weigh more heavily?

  2. What would you be willing to have in your own municipality: wind power, nuclear power, solar farms or none of it?

  3. Is it reasonable that the electricity price differs between different parts of the country?

  4. How much of energy policy should be decided jointly in the EU?

  5. What would make you get involved in an energy decision near you?

Glossary

Kommunala vetot
The municipal council's right to say no to wind power, without approval there is no permit.
Elområde
Sweden is divided into four price areas for electricity, your price depends on where you live.
Stamnät
The large power lines that move electricity through the country, run by Svenska kraftnät.
Miljöprövningsdelegation
The part of the County Administrative Board that decides on environmental permits for larger facilities.
Samråd
The formal stage when those concerned can have their say before a decision is made.

Go further

Footnotes

1) This is an estimate of how decision-making power over the issue is split between the municipality, the region, central government and the EU, based on how responsibility is divided in legislation. A teaching guide, not an exact measurement.