Sweden's national grid operator Svenska kraftnät is sitting on approximately 85 billion kronor in unused electricity bottleneck revenues, according to a report from Sveriges Radio Ekot. These funds, known as 'flaskhalsinkomster,' have accumulated since 2020 when large price differences in electricity across different regions created substantial revenue streams for the grid operator.
In total, Svenska kraftnät has received 168 billion kronor in bottleneck revenues over the past six years, with about half of that amount still unspent. The unused funds represent roughly the same amount that the Swedish government spent on the entire justice system last year.
It's true, it takes ten years, but it comes back already today through lower fees and projects that are of great benefit to the electricity market and electricity customers,
Peter Wigert, acting director general of Svenska kraftnät, acknowledged that it could take up to a decade before all the money collected from consumers and businesses is returned through infrastructure improvements. 'It's true, it takes ten years, but it comes back already today through lower fees and projects that are of great benefit to the electricity market and electricity customers,' Wigert stated.
The use of these funds is strictly regulated, primarily allocated for new power lines to improve electricity transmission and reduced system fees. While a significant portion was used three years ago for extensive household electricity support, that was only possible due to a temporary EU rule and is not currently an option.
Svenska kraftnät expects billions more in bottleneck revenues to come in over the next few years, but the company maintains that all funds will eventually be used for planned projects that benefit the electricity market.