Why should we pay tax on free electricity?

It seems to be low electricity prices in large parts of the country this summer, as well as varied electricity prices in southern Sweden. This is largely due to more solar and wind in the energy system.

But when a lot of sun and wind energy is produced, it can be an excess. In these moments a so -called minus price or negative price on electricity.

In theory, consumers will then receive Paid to use electricity – If one belongs to that minority which has a variable agreement with hourly rates. But in practice, network charges and tax make customers Need to pay anyway.

Exactly the electricity tax is a problem. We consumers should be asked to put on the washing machine, charge the car and vacuum at those moments when the system has an excess. Anyone who consumes when we have too much electricity actually does society a service and should be rewarded.

To then let customers pay a high electricity tax is with the government’s climate investigator John Hassler’s words “Social economically harmful« 

But above all, it would be positive if we do not have tax at negative prices

For the same reason, it is stupid that we currently provide tax reductions to the person who delivers solar energy to the electricity grid on occasions when it is not needed. Such support should only be relevant for new technologies that need help on the market, and the future of solar energy looks bright anyway. To abolish The tax reduction from January 1, 2026, as the government proposes, is therefore a good idea.

It is Good to The government the other day announced that it wants to lower the electricity tax, albeit just a little. Responsible politicians are welcome to go ahead and switch the lowered tax on the almost completely fossil -free electricity against increased tax on the climate -damaging gasoline.

This should be a reform that both nuclear -crazy moderates and petrol -critical environmental partners can support. For Swedes want to contribute to the climate change – it just has to be easier.

Read more:

Elias Rosell: Why should the homeowners pay the climate note?

Susanne Nyström: Romina Pourmokhtari must stop pretending to be slave during opinion