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April 2024 saw a notable increase in electricity consumption in Finland, driven by colder-than-average temperatures and a rise in household usage. Despite this surge, the average electricity price actually dropped compared to March, aided by robust wind and hydro power production.
Electricity consumption in April 2024 rose by 5% compared to the same month in 2023.
While industrial consumption dropped by 13.5% due to strikes and operational shutdowns, household and other sectors saw a significant increase of 19.5%. The unusually cold weather played a significant role, with April temperatures in Helsinki and Jyväskylä being two and one-and-a-half degrees Celsius colder, respectively, than the previous year.
The average price of electricity in April was 4.89 cents per kilowatt-hour, a decrease from March’s 5.89 cents, and significantly lower than April 2023’s 6.06 cents. This drop in price encouraged the use of electric boilers for heating, which was in high demand due to the cold weather, particularly in the latter half of the month.
Nuclear power production took a hit due to the annual maintenance at the Olkiluoto plant, reducing its contribution to 29% of the electricity mix, down from 45% in April 2023. Despite this reduction, the shortfall did not lead to a spike in electricity prices thanks to increased production from wind and hydro power
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
