The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities regrets in a statement that rapporteurs in the Folketing last year were not informed about delays in the expansion of the electricity grid. This is according to Ritzau, who has seen the statement.
The delay and the lack of information are two of the focal points in the case that has led nine parties to summon Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Lars Aagaard (M) for a consultation on Wednesday. Here he risks being met with a vote of no confidence from the opposition, which in that case would effectively mean that he is unlikely to continue as minister.
- It is a mistake in the ministry that it (the information, ed.) did not happen at one of the two final negotiation meetings, on 4 and 10 December respectively. The Ministry regrets to the Minister and the Folketing that this information was not included in the negotiation process.
- The Ministry has taken the initiative to tighten the internal procedures in the Ministry so that similar errors do not occur again, the statement says.
The case came to the public eye when the media Zetland in March reported that a press release from Energinet was withdrawn after dialogue with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities. The press release described that there were delays in 98 of 174 planned expansions of the Danish electricity grid.
The specific press release and assessment were not delivered to the public or the parties outside the government. Opposition politicians are strongly dissatisfied with the fact that, in their view, the minister has withheld important information about the delayed electricity grid ahead of political negotiations on the subject later last year.
On August 28 last year, Lars Aagaard was informed by his ministry that the expansion of the electricity grid would be delayed and more expensive than expected. On September 3, the minister was informed of the updated forecasts from Energinet, which falls under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities.
Lars Aagaard agreed with the approach that Energinet should not issue a press release about the delays in the expansion of the electricity grid.
- The Minister will not participate in the discussions with Energinet, but will be informed that communication about delays is awaiting professional clarification, that the delays can be separated from tariff increases and the work on measures aimed at faster expansion of the electricity grid, which is why the subject will not be discussed at the meeting of the energy conciliation board on September 4.
- The Minister will be informed verbally and agrees with the procedure, the statement states.
On September 12 last year, Energinet issued a press release that was about the increasing tariffs, not delays. Lars Aagaard has already apologized for the procedure at a meeting that he himself called.
jel /ritzau/
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