Cabin owner Peter fears 100,000 electricity bill this winter – VG

Peter Jakob Löw and his family may have to close their cabin on Lake Sjusjon this season if the vacation homes don’t have electricity either.

This winter will be hard on the wallet for most of us – but some people are extra worried about their upcoming electricity bills.

One of these is Peter Jakob Lowow, owner of the cabin. If he and his family use the cabin casually this winter, he fears the cabin’s electricity bill will be 10,000–20,000 per month (excluding online rent).

If the price of electricity rises to NOK 20 kWh, Analysts suggest that this could happen this winterLøwø fears the total electricity bill could be NOK 100,000 during the five-month winter.

Shakti is not supported

The challenge is that none of this is covered, as holiday homes are not included in the government’s electricity subsidy scheme. The explanation for this is that the power subsidy is targeted at households.

– I feel incredibly comfortable in the cabin and we want to be there as much as possible. But if we get a final decision on electricity support from the government, Lowe says we will close the chamber this winter, adding:

– When the price of electricity approaches NOK 8-10, we cannot go to the cabin. Our selection is based on electricity prices. We don’t have the money to cover those expenses.

Read what the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has to say on the matter regarding electricity subsidy for holiday homes.

– Feeling painted into a corner

Lowe isn’t the only cabin owner thinking of spending little or no time in a cabin this winter, Norwegian Cabin Association President Trond G. Hagen is to be believed.

– We will probably see many people already staying home from the cabin during the fall holidays. This can have a huge impact on local businesses, who may experience a huge loss of revenue during the winter, when they are usually the busiest.

Hagen says he receives many inquiries from cabin owners who don’t know how they are going to manage electricity costs of NOK 15,000-20,000 a month with a completely normal income.

– Many cabin owners feel they’ve painted themselves into a corner they can’t get out of. Because this winter, even if they’re not in the room, they have to wear something warm to avoid frostbite, and Hagen says the electricity bill could be up to NOK 10,000 this winter.

The only “luxury” is a washing machine.

The holiday home for Løwø is a 55 m² cabin in Sjusjøen. He and his family bought it in 2018. He and his partner travel here with their 10- and 13-year-old children an average of two weekends a month to slalom and ski.

Løwø looked at the previous winter’s electricity bills and says that on average they used between 1000 and 1200 kWt of electricity per month. The father of the family, Thane, is a trained electrician who has worked in lighting sales for many years and says he has a good perspective on energy saving measures.

– The only “luxury” in the cabin is a washing machine. We have heating cables in a small bathroom and a small hallway, and other heating is done by burning wood. We should probably shower a little less, says Lowe, otherwise the next step is to turn off and turn off.

Read about what you should do if you’re considering closing the cabin below the case.

– Many people are considering selling the cabin

Trond G. Hagen of the Norwegian Cabin Association says that in the past there may have been a waste of electricity among Norwegian cabin owners, but they now realize the seriousness.

– There aren’t many of these luxury palaces anyway. Most Norwegian cabins are under 100 m².

According to the Norwegian Cabin Association The average consumption of electricity is about 8,000 kWh per year. In comparison, the state provides electricity subsidy for electricity consumption of 5,000 kilowatt-hours per month.

– What is the problem with including holiday homes in the One Roof Electricity Subsidy Scheme? asks the president of the Hytteforbundet.

The association’s lawyers consider Also, whether there is legal basis for civil action against the government in this case is now expected to be decided by September 18.

According to Hagen, many cabin owners now say they have no choice but to sell the cabin if they don’t get electricity support.

– But the cabin owners’ situation now is that they are afraid that they won’t be able to sell the cabin at the price they think because of this high electricity price.

Less applies to rent

When it comes to more detailed measures such as installing a heat pump, Lowo believes it would be more profitable in a larger cabin, and he points out that they don’t use panel stoves to heat the cabin now anyway.

He says he was also asked if he could rent out the cabin to cover the extra cost.

– But if we rent, we have to rent a lot at current electricity prices. And then the question is whether we’ve got anyone to hire. Besides, we have a cabin so we can use it to ourselves as much as possible.

If you are considering renting, you should read this case as much as you can What do you need to know before renting a cabin?.

– A place to recharge

– If you don’t go to your room this winter, what consequences will it have for you?

– Even though it is at the end of the season now, it should be tested a bit during the cabin ban during the Corona period as well. But for those of us who like to be active and do winter sports where it doesn’t snow, being in a cabin is good for our soul and health – a place to recharge in excitement. Everyday life, says Løwø.

He also points out that if many families choose to stay at home from the cabin this coming winter, local businesses — for example, at Sjusjon Lake and nearby areas — are often based on cabin guests.

– What do your children say that you should not be allowed to go to the room this winter?

– My partner and I discuss this a bit at home and then the kids take some of it. If they hear that we’re considering not going to the cabin this winter, that’s a crisis.

– Fall holidays are just around the corner. Shall we go to the cabin then?

– Yes, I think we will travel during the autumn holidays. But with electricity prices continuing to rise, it could be an expensive fall vacation.

OED: – a grant to a family

We contacted the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to explain Petter Jakob Løwø’s situation and asked them the following questions:

• Considering reversing this problem and providing electrical support for vacation homes as well?
• If the answer is no, what explains your choice to leave holiday homes out of the electricity subsidy scheme?

Here is the response we received from Secretary of State Elizabeth Sether (Ap):

– We are concerned with the generous support program for families and believe that the principle of one support per family is sound. Although many have access to a cabin, home consumption needs to be prioritized.

– The government is keen to pursue a social democratic policy where we help where it is most needed. Our job is to constantly evaluate how we are using social funds in the best way for society. The government believes that the policy of one support per family is good.

You should do this when you close the cabin

Petter Jakob Løwø and those who intend to close the cabin in winter should take some precautions so that water and frost damage do not occur, for example.

Løwø leaves frost protection. To save as much electricity as possible when he and his family are away, he turns off the water heater, but it’s important to empty it completely of water first so that bacteria doesn’t build up and cause ice damage. .

Sigmund Clements fears that expensive electricity will cause a lot of damage to cabins and houses this winter, and his most important advice is:

– Close the cabin water intake when you are not in the cabin. The insurance company’s safety regulations require you to do this, but the exact rules about how many days you must be away vary between companies.

Generally, people carry a small cooler in the cabin when they are away. But with record high electricity prices, more and more people are going to give it up, and that’s why Very much Clements says it’s important to remind people to shut off their water intake this winter.

For natural reasons, very few people want to leave the hot tub this winter, but Clements also reminds us that if the power goes out in the cabin – and you don’t give notice about this – you risk encountering “Norway’s biggest ice.” Hot tub when you return.

Pssst! There’s a lot you can do to lower your electricity bill: from big investments to things that don’t cost you a penny. A grip that really pleases doesn’t cost anything.