The Electricity Uprising, a grassroots movement, now has over 1,400 members spread across all of Norrbotten, with its strongest foothold in Jokkmokk. Its ambition is to spread across the entire county and then demonstrate together on March 18 in Norrbotten's central towns. The movement's demands include national electricity prices prioritizing national needs, a real 'Norrland tariff' halving the energy tax in SE1 and SE2, abolishing the 'tax on tax' by removing VAT on electricity, and regulating the electricity grid monopoly with full transparency and caps on grid fee increases for companies.
The movement originated from the Facebook group 'Eluppropet', which started in Jokkmokk and now has nearly 3,500 members. Jokkmokk is the municipality that is the country's largest producer of renewable electricity. Arjeplog is participating in the protest against electricity prices.
In response to electricity price concerns, Vattenfall states that electricity prices are set by the market and influenced by many different factors, that prices are set on a Nordic market, and that they themselves have no direct influence.
Meanwhile, a large number of people have gathered in central Stockholm to demonstrate for the climate. The climate demonstration's message is 'Listen to the scientists – reduce emissions now.' Behind the demonstration stand over 85 non-partisan organizations, including ABF Stockholm, Equmeniakyrkan, Naturskyddsföreningen, and Extinction Rebellion.
We know that 89 percent of the world's population demands stronger climate policy. By marching together we transform worry into action and show our leaders that we demand a policy that protects our planet and future.
Organizers expected around 5,000 participants for the climate demonstration. Police were present to redirect traffic and ensure the demonstration march could proceed from Odenplan to Sergels torg. The police spokesperson said the demonstration was permitted and went excellently.
Separately, a rail protest against the halving of night train traffic began in Abisko and will end in Umeå on Thursday. The background to the rail protest is Trafikverket's decision from late last year to have only one night train in each direction running between Stockholm and Narvik to ensure quality until new vehicles are delivered in 2030. During the campaign's second day at Älvsbyn's travel center, the relay baton was handed over to the organizers on the train onward to Umeå.
Nationwide, about a dozen demonstrations are planned from Luleå in the north to Malmö in the south, with the message that children should not sit in prison. The purpose of the child imprisonment protests is to show the massive opposition that exists against a lowered age of criminal responsibility, according to the organizations behind them, including Rädda Barnen, Bris, Svenska kyrkan, Vision, and Akademikerförbundet SSR.
The specific impact of the electricity price protests on policy or market changes remains unclear, as does the official response from authorities to the Electricity Uprising's demands beyond Vattenfall's statement. The total number of participants across all the various protests mentioned has not been tallied, and the current status and outcomes of the rail protest after it reached Umeå are not yet known.