The Swedish Competition Authority has written to the government calling for an end to co-ownership of nuclear stations. Instead, says the Authority, the principal owners should be allowed to operate one facility each.
The move follows a study of the competitive situation in the Swedish electricity market and while the agency has found no evidence to suggest that the enterprises currently in joint ownership of Swedish nuclear power – Vattenfall, E.ON and Fortum – have breached competition law, there are risks associated with co-ownership, the agency points out.
”First and foremost, I’d like to see the three power companies being given individual responsibility for one nuclear power station each,” says director general Claes Norgren, adding: ”We are also advising the government to consider selling off some of Vattenfall’s electricity-producing facilities, or widening their ownership.”
In addition, the government should ease the current restrictions on investment in new electrical power production which would enhance competition in the market.
”If our proposals are accepted, the competitive situation would improve, and in the final analysis it is the consumers who benefit,” says Norgren.
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