Almost all Finnish electricity distribution companies have appealed the Energy Authority's so-called methodology decisions to the Market Court. A joint appeal from 66 distribution companies was submitted to the Market Court on January 29, 2024, and the oral hearings will take place in November/December 2024. Partner Erkko Ruohoniemi from Merilampi Attorneys is representing the distribution companies in the joint appeal.

The Energy Authority's new regulatory methods for distribution companies for the years 2024–2027 and 2028–2031 came into effect at the beginning of 2024. The new regulatory methods significantly reduce the allowed revenue for electricity distribution companies, especially in the long term, which severely weakens the companies' operational conditions and investment capacity.

The electricity distribution companies consider some of the changes made to the Energy Authority's regulatory methods to be unlawful and unreasonable. It is important for the distribution companies that the principles of regulation are clear and consistent. The regulatory methods should simultaneously ensure that customer network service fees remain reasonable and that distribution companies can continue investing in the development of electricity networks to meet the needs of customers and society.

"The regulatory methods set for the next eight years do not fulfil the latter requirement, and we do not consider the new regulatory methods to be in line with the Electricity Market Act," commented Ina Lehto, the leading expert at the Energy Industry Association (Energiateollisuus ry).

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