Hearing on Elering's Strategy (No. 741)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-09-09 00:43
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 11
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 16m
AI Summaries: 11/11 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu addressed an interpellation submitted by Lauri Laats, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Andrei Korobeinik, Vadim Belobrovtsev, Aleksei Jevgrafov, and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart regarding Elering's strategy, which concerned the state-owned company's consideration of Estonia's socio-economic impacts versus the needs of the European single market when making decisions. The interpellators, introduced by Vadim Belobrovtsev, referred to an earlier statement by Elering's CEO, Kalle Kilk, where he prioritized the needs of the European single market, arguing that focusing on local impacts would lead to a higher electricity price. The questions focused on whether the government was aware of Elering's alleged disregard for local impacts, what analyses such authorization was based upon, and what the payback period is for external connections (the fourth Estonia-Latvia connection, Estlink 3).
Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt responded to the interpellation, categorically denying that Elering was ignoring Estonia's socio-economic impacts. He emphasized that the new owner expectations for Elering clearly set the goal of achieving a competitive final energy price for the Estonian consumer. The Minister explained that Elering operates based on Estonian development documents and the European Union's energy policy, the goal of which is to ensure a secure, affordable, and environmentally sustainable energy supply. He confirmed that analyses (including those conducted within the framework of ENTSO-E and PCI projects) show that a connected electricity system is socio-economically the most beneficial and reduces price volatility. Sutt affirmed that the development of the domestic network remains Elering's priority, and the construction of external connections is often financed by congestion revenue and European subsidies, not by the network tariff. In the subsequent debate, Rain Epler (EKRE) sharply criticized the government's energy policy, accusing the Minister of using "bastard language" and claiming that European over-regulation and the focus on the green transition have led to a decline in economic competitiveness. Epler called for abandoning the excessive love for wind and solar energy and setting the goal of restoring Estonia as a strong electricity exporter.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Rain Epler (on the right) gave a long and critical speech, in which he accused the government of implementing "liberal-democratic totalitarianism" and sharply criticized European energy policy and its negative impact on Estonia's competitiveness.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman informed the body that today's agenda item is the interpellation regarding Elering's strategy, submitted on April 7th by Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Andrei Korobeinik, Vadim Belobrovtsev, Aleksei Jevgrafov, and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart. Noting Lauri Laats' absence, he asked Vadim Belobrovtsev, who was present, to introduce the interpellation.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Dear Minister, we kindly request confirmation as to whether you are aware that Elering considers only the needs of the European single market in its decisions and that the socio-economic impacts on Estonia are not taken into account, what analyses or mandates have been provided for this, what the profitability calculations for external connections are, and whether the development of domestic networks is not a priority when the investment in the fourth Estonia-Latvia interconnection is being considered.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the members and asks that the Minister of Energy and Environment, Andres Sutt, be invited to the Riigikogu rostrum to respond to the interpellation.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Andres Sutt emphasizes that Elering takes socio-economic impacts into account in its decisions. The functioning of the regional market ensures more favorable electricity prices for Estonian consumers and businesses. Analyses conducted regarding the cost-effectiveness of external connections show significant benefits, and the development of the domestic network is continuing. Simultaneously, Estonia will consider the decision on the fourth Estonia-Latvia connection project in 2027, provided that the prerequisites are met.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the audience and now opens the floor for questions, inviting Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The question facing Elering is whether its strategies and conduct should prioritize Estonia's socio-economic impact or the needs of the European single market.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt emphasized that the updated expectations of Elering's owner do not conflict, but clearly set the goal of ensuring both a competitive final energy price, as well as supply and crisis resilience, operational continuity, and security, including the capability to protect itself against cyber and physical attacks and to use reliable technology.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Andres Sutt stated that the owner has set a clear goal for Elering: a competitive final price while simultaneously ensuring interconnections, security of supply, crisis resilience, and security, along with the use of reliable technology and technology partners from trustworthy countries.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the minister, stated that there were no questions, opened the debate, and invited his colleague Rain Epler to the podium.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticizes liberal-democratic totalitarianism and the European energy market’s reliance on fossil fuels and imports. He calls on Estonia to end its excessive obsession with solar and wind energy and return to its status as an electricity exporter, which it held in 2018.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman concludes the consideration of the tenth item on today's agenda and closes the debate.