Electricity prices soar amid political shifts

Electricity prices in southern Sweden may become 73 percent more expensive this winter, at the same time as local politics in Högsby and Oskarshamn are changing.

Electricity prices are soaring in southern Sweden – could become 73 percent more expensive

Electricity prices in southern Sweden continue to rise. On Monday, the spot price in electricity area 4 reached almost SEK 9.40 per kilowatt-hour including VAT. The latest winter forecast from the energy company Eon shows that a homeowner with annual consumption of 20,000 kilowatt-hours may face an electricity trading cost of around SEK 29,800 from October to March. That is 73 percent more than last winter.

The high prices are due to, among other things, weak wind power production, limited availability of nuclear power and bottlenecks in electricity transmission. High gas prices in Europe are also affecting southern Sweden. The forecast shows that the electricity trading cost in electricity area 4 may also become around 20 percent higher than during the crisis winter of 2022/2023. SVT Nyheter Småland

2,500 kilos of fruit donated to the kitchens in Kalmar municipality

Around 2.5 tons of fruit and vegetables were handed in by private individuals in Kalmar municipality to the municipality's kitchens (the municipality is the local authority) during the autumn. – It has been great fun to meet all the people who chose to hand over their surplus of fruit and vegetables to us, says a chef and initiator of the collection drive.

The fruit that was handed in has both been served as it is, but also become an ingredient in cakes and smoothies. The purpose of the initiative is to make use of resources and reduce food waste. The collection drive ended at the end of October, but will return next autumn. SVT Nyheter Småland

Politician change at a flash-called meeting in 19 minutes

19 minutes. That is how long it took to replace the politicians on the Social Welfare Committee and the Education Committee in Oskarshamn. The positions of chair went to Pontus Welin (L) and Rebecka Englund (KD).

On Monday evening, the politicians gathered at kommunfullmäktige (the municipality's highest decision-making body) for an extraordinary meeting. The meeting was held in a venue one flight of stairs above Nova because the studio at Kulturhuset was booked for dancing. Barometern

Tire change at the customer’s home – high school students started a UF company

Before the first lesson begins, two high school students in Kalmar have already been to a customer’s home and changed a tire. Their business idea is to go to the customer, rather than the other way around. Now they have started a UF company.

Alongside their high school studies, they change tires and carry out oil changes on cars. Unlike many others, they go to customers’ homes to change the tires, instead of having the customers come to them. In the future, they hope to be able to start a limited company together. SVT Nyheter Småland

The historic Novemberkåsan offered a grueling test of strength and endurance

The classic enduro competition Novemberkåsan is one of motorsport’s toughest challenges. The historic 100th edition was held over the weekend in Knivsta, where riders had to battle their way through muddy forest trails and dark night stages. This year’s race took place on 7–8 November and consisted of a daytime stage followed by two night stages. In total, it covered approximately 40 kilometres of demanding terrain.

Albin Elowson from FMCK Skövde won the 100th Novemberkåsan after being the fastest through most of the race. His winning margin over runner-up Casper Lindholm was just over eleven minutes. Several riders from Vimmerby MS participated; three of them reached the finish, while one was forced to withdraw during the night stage. SVT Nyheter Småland

17-year-old sentenced for Bengal firework attack on stands in Kalmar

A 17-year-old boy from Nybro Municipality is sentenced by Kalmar District Court (the local court) for complicity in an offence under the Public Order Act. He is alleged to have directed four masked people to a spot on the stands, where they lit Bengal firecrackers during an all-Swedish match between Kalmar FF and Mjällby AIF in July.

The boy denied the offence and claimed that he wanted to move the people away from an area where there were children and older people in order to protect them. The court instead found that he was aware of what the people were planning and helped them carry out their plans. He is sentenced to 50 days’ fines (a financial penalty) of 50 kronor each, totalling 2,500 kronor. SVT Nyheter Småland

In brief

• A new municipal councillor was elected in Högsby after the executive board was dismissed, and former SD politicians have formed the new party Högsbydemokraterna. Barometern Barometern
• A player from Ruda IF leads the fantasy league in a popular game with 2 rounds remaining. Barometern
• The property at Raabs Väg 32 in Smedby, Kalmar has new owners. Barometern
• The new company Midé Sweden AB has been established in Kalmar. Barometern
• The administrative court (a court that reviews decisions made by public authorities) rules in favour of Kalmar länstrafik in a dispute over public transport services. Barometern