The Columbus Dispatch

Sweden to help with heat payments

- David Keyton

STOCKHOLM – Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some $661 million for a temporary plan to help the most affected households across the Scandinavi­an country cope with high electricit­y bills this winter.

Households consuming more than 2,000 kilowatt-hours per month can get compensati­on worth about $220 per month for the three months December-february. Some 1.8 million households are affected, the government said.

“This is an exceptiona­l measure in an exceptiona­l situation; it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” said Finance Minister Mikkel Damberg.

Sweden’s one-party, minority Social Democratic government is expected to get majority backing for the plan in the 349-seat Riksdag.

Homeowners in Sweden have been adopting strategies to lower their consumptio­n, such as turning down the heat.

“It’s a crazy situation to be in,” said Hannah Hall, who lives in an old wooden house in Kristineha­mn, a small town in central Sweden. “I was aware it would be an expensive winter, but it feels unpreceden­ted.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States