Situational picture of security of supply: Energy sufficiency remains a key concern

Energy sufficiency – and the sufficiency of electricity, in particular – is still the number one concern among companies. The Finnish electricity system is currently stable, however, and the likelihood of energy shortages during the end of the year is small.

Forming a common situational picture is key with regard to decision-making during crises and disruptions. The National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) maintains an overall picture of security of supply to support the decision-making of the private sector and the Finnish government.

The situational picture report includes an overview of different industries’ ability to function and the challenges they may face. The overall picture formed together with the National Emergency Supply Organisation (NESO) examines the challenges in the operating environment from several perspectives.

The situational picture of security of supply has now been kept up to date for approximately two and a half years. As of the start of 2023, the situational picture will be updated once a month.

Situational picture on 16 December: The electricity situation is stable, but gas remains a concern

The situational picture of security of supply has remained largely unchanged from the previous update on 2 December. Energy sufficiency and the sufficiency of electricity, in particular, are still the primary concerns among companies. However, the likelihood of energy shortages during the end of the year is small, provided that no major breakdowns occur.

The Finnish Government issued a decree on critical electricity consumers that entered into force on 9 December, and electricity distribution network companies have started to update their contingency plans and classify electricity consumers accordingly. The Government decree defines an order of priority for electricity consumers, which has also raised some questions among companies, as the list of critical electricity consumers does not include electricity consumers critical to Finland’s food supply.

As regards gas sufficiency, the situation is concerning, with consumption nearing the available technical transmission capacity. Gasgrid Finland emphasises the importance of minimising the commercial imbalances of market participants.

As regards the health care services system, the overall situation remains challenging, especially for hospitals.

The National Emergency Supply Agency releases a brief summary of the situational picture report. The details concerning industries are classified and are therefore not made public.