Availability of electricity
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, press briefing
Date: 2024-03-06 15:25
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 16
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 16/16 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The central focus of the session's agenda item was the availability and price of electricity following the fault in the Estlink 2 submarine cable, which has significantly raised electricity prices in Estonia compared to Finland. Riigikogu member Aivar Kokk (PID: 6pkS-7ETEiU) posed a question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, criticizing the actions of Elering and the lengthy repair time (until the end of August), which, according to Kokk's calculations, will cost Estonian consumers nearly 100 million euros. Kokk emphasized that due to bottleneck fees, the cable fault is an exceptionally profitable business for Elering, while Estonian consumers bear the costs.
Prime Minister Kallas acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the situation, particularly the late identification of the fault location, which was caused by the cable's complex position at the transition point between the land and sea connections. She expressed doubt as to whether the repair work would truly be completed by August, citing the high demand and monopolistic status of specialized repair companies. Kallas announced that the cabinet would discuss the issue next week to find ways to accelerate the process, and she stressed the need for additional interconnections and dispatchable electricity generation. Supplementary questions also addressed Elering's responsibility and the strategic goal of keeping Estonia's electricity price lower than Finland's in the future.
Decisions Made 1
No formal decision was made at the Riigikogu level, as the matter was an interpellation directed at the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas did announce, however, that the cabinet would discuss the Estlink 2 failure and the acceleration of repair work next Thursday.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker, who laid out the substance of the issue and the accompanying criticism, was Riigikogu member Aivar Kokk (PID: 6pkS-7ETEiU). Kokk posed a question to the Prime Minister focusing on the economic impact of the Estlink 2 failure on Estonian consumers, calculating an additional cost of nearly 100 million euros. He sharply criticized Elering's operations, particularly the lengthy repair time and the earning of congestion fees, which turns the cable failure into "a very profitable business" for Elering. Kokk adopted a critical stance, demanding government intervention to accelerate the repair and proposing alternative solutions for ensuring dispatchable electricity generation (the use of pellet dust in the Narva power plants).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that we are moving on to the sixth question for Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, which will be presented by Riigikogu member Aivar Kokk and the topic of which is the availability of electrical energy.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The failure of Estlink 2, coupled with the delay in its repair, is set to generate roughly 100 million euros in extra costs for Estonian consumers and businesses over a seven-month period. This incident clearly demonstrates the critical importance of having a dispatchable power supply to meet domestic needs.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar emphasizes that your question is the focus of the speech.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk called for a thorough review of the doctrine of supply security based on external interconnections, and urged that the cable repair not take seven months, arguing that a lengthy delay increases costs and impedes economic growth due to high input prices.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas acknowledged that the price of electricity has significantly dropped, but delays related to the fault in the undersea cable and limited competition are causing uncertainty in the repair schedule. The government will discuss during Thursday's cabinet meeting how to accelerate the process, establish additional connections and capacities, and ensure cheap electricity for businesses in Estonia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls for a clarifying question to Aivar Kukk.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk criticizes Elering's role regarding the failures of Estlink 1 and the subsequent transfer of risks onto consumers and businesses. He demands accountability and questions the compensation of the management. Furthermore, he proposes the introduction of pellet-based, clean electricity in Estonia as a cheaper alternative to gas turbines and hydrogen, an idea which should be discussed with the minister.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that tomorrow they will discuss the answers provided by the head of Elering, and they will address preparations for power outages, the difficult situation facing pellet production and the timber sector, as well as the feasibility of that proposal, which she is not going to evaluate just off the cuff.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the speaker and invites Rain Epler to ask a follow-up question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asked the Prime Minister what the price of Estonian electricity should be in ten years compared to Finland, and requested a clear assessment—the same, more expensive, or cheaper—without exact numbers or percentages.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that she has written several articles and cited another article, and her desire is for Estonian electricity to be cheaper than in Finland.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concludes the sixth question, confirms that the hall's acoustics are in order, and notes that Rain Epler submitted a question regarding the rules for conducting the sitting.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler stressed that his question was not about whether the prime minister was referencing (or quoting), but rather which sources were being cited, and he noted that the prime minister referred to her own article, which is not a false statement.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar explains to Rain Epler that this is not a procedural question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speech has been recorded in the transcript.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that this is not a procedural matter, and a protest of this nature in this setting cannot and must not be treated as procedural, as it does not fall under our Rules of Procedure.