Electricity support, cheaper buses and new governments

Electricity support and high electricity prices in Kalmar County, half the price on bus passes, and new political administrations in Högsby and Älmhult. Here follows an overview of local decisions, jobs and the economy, sport and traffic.

Electricity support and high electricity prices in Kalmar County

The government announced on Tuesday that a high-cost protection scheme will be activated for electricity prices exceeding 1.50 kronor per kilowatt-hour on average in electricity price area 4. Residents in parts of Kalmar County, among other areas, can expect a payment into their account. The electricity price in electricity area 4 exceeded the limit by 7 öre, reaching 1.57 kr/kWh during October, and 90 percent of the kilowatt-hours above the limit are reimbursed.

For a detached-house owner with an electricity bill of around 1,000 kronor, the reimbursement will be around 100 kronor for October. Kalmar is in electricity area 4, where the average electricity price in Kalmar was around 3 kronor per kilowatt-hour in early November. According to Barometern, an energy adviser says that people should not adapt their lives to electricity prices. Sources: SVT Nyheter Småland, Barometern.

Half-price bus cards increased sales

From 1 July to 31 December, residents can travel by bus for half price. During the July–September period this year, sales at Kalmar Länstrafik (public transport) increased by 67 percent. The total increase for the period amounts to approximately 9 million kronor.

It was to support households that the government and Sweden Democrats introduced the initiative. According to Länstrafiken Kalmar, it is too early to comment on the result. Source: SVT Nyheter Småland.

New governing bodies in Högsby and Älmhult

Two municipal council members in Högsby Municipality have left Sverigedemokraterna and become political independents. Kristdemokraterna and Sverigedemokraterna have invited Moderaterna to join the governing body, and the new agreement gives the three opposition parties 17 of the 31 seats in Högsby municipal council (the municipality's decision-making assembly). Source: SVT Nyheter Småland.

In Älmhult Municipality, Socialdemokraterna and Moderaterna will form a majority government with 22 of the 41 seats in the municipal council. Socialdemokraterna governed during the past term together with Centerpartiet. Governing bodies and committees will be appointed at the municipal council meeting in November, the budget will be adopted in December, and the new government will take office on 1 January. Source: SVT Nyheter Småland.

Hacker attack on store refrigeration and freezers

Several stores across the country experienced problems with their refrigeration and freezing systems overnight on Monday following a hacker attack. Ica nära in Böda on northern Öland and Ica nära Sundbergs in Mörlunda have been affected. In Böda, the freezer had risen to 55 degrees above zero and there was a puddle of water on the floor; all freezers and refrigerators are to be shut down and all goods destroyed.

In Mörlunda, the store has closed until further notice and all the contents of the store's seven freezers have had to be discarded; goods worth several thousand kronor are set to be thrown away. What lies behind the attacks and how they were carried out has not yet been established. Sources: SVT Nyheter Småland, SVT Nyheter Småland.

CL98 won in overtime against Kalmarsund U

CL98's path to victory over Kalmarsund U at home in division 1 Småland women's floorball proved anything but simple. It was only in overtime that CL98 secured a 5-4 win (2-2, 1-0, 1-2, 1-0) and claimed the bonus points. Source: Barometern.

Traffic cameras on Ölandsbron lack permits

The tourism company Öland & Co has installed traffic cameras on Ölandsbron to measure the number of tourists crossing by car. According to Trafikverket (the Swedish state authority for roads and railways), the cameras are illegal, and what may be placed within the road area is regulated in Swedish law. A formal application from Öland & Co has now been submitted to Trafikverket, and the review is expected to take six to ten weeks.

Trafikverket has assessed that the cameras are not dangerous to passing traffic and has issued a formal order. If the order is not complied with, fines or similar measures may follow, and the decision must be respected – the cameras may need to be taken down or relocated. Source: SVT Nyheter Småland.

In brief

• The water levels in the Alsterån are so low that they risk affecting drinking water production in Mönsterås municipality. Barometern
• A pig farm in Kalmar municipality has been affected by salmonella; Jordbruksverket (the government agency for agriculture) sealed off the piglet enclosure at the end of last week, and the pigs have been given medicine. Barometern
• Craftstadens IBK Oskarshamn lost 3-4 to Vetlanda IBF in Division 1 Småland women's floorball. Barometern
• A 17-year-old has been chosen as the next Lucia of Kalmarbygden. Barometern