Caruna delayed the delivery times – now came a drastic decision from the Energy Agency

The Energy Agency has issued a binding decision Caruna-group members to Caruna Oy and for Caruna Espoo Oy for violating the general principles of the provision of network services according to the Electricity Market Act, the obligation to develop the network and the obligation to connect.

The Energy Agency considers that the companies have deliberately and systematically reduced their customers’ subscription investments and slowed down the delivery of subscriptions to their customers due to the companies’ own financial interests.

Since last spring, the Energy Agency has investigated Caruna’s long connection times in the companies’ electricity networks. The Energy Agency started an investigation into Caruna’s connection times based on a customer notification received in April 2024, according to which Caruna has given the connection delivery time as 16 months.

Kauppalehti reported about this last May.

The Energy Agency has also received other contacts from Caruna’s customers regarding delivery times for subscriptions.

The action was intentional

When the Energy Agency investigated the matter, it became apparent that Caruna has deliberately and systematically reduced its customers’ subscription investments and slowed down the delivery of subscriptions to its customers due to its own financial interests. Delivery times of up to 14–17 months have been given for customers’ subscriptions.

In the statements requested by the Energy Agency, Caruna has justified the long connection delivery times with its financial situation, which according to them is due to the reasonable pricing control methods of network operators confirmed by the Energy Agency in December 2023.

The Energy Agency considers that Caruna’s financial situation or control methods are not relevant when evaluating the reasonable connection time of customers or the fulfillment of other relevant obligations of the Electricity Market Act.

The decision obliges Caruna to correct the delivery times

Based on its report, the Energy Agency has issued a binding decision to Caruna on 19 December 2024 regarding the violation of the general principles of the provision of network services, the obligation to develop the network and the obligation to connect in accordance with the Electricity Market Act.

In its decision, the Energy Agency has assessed the compliance of the delivery times of Caruna’s subscriptions with the Electricity Market Act and compared the delivery times of the subscriptions with the delivery times of other network operators.

In its decision, the Energy Agency states that Caruna’s operations have not been in accordance with the Electricity Market Act, because the delivery times of the subscriptions have not been justified and reasonable, and it has not been able to secure the reasonable service needs of customers to access the network in a reasonable time with fair and non-discriminatory service principles.

Delivery times differ significantly from other operators

The delivery times of Caruna’s subscriptions also differ significantly from the delivery times of other network operators’ subscriptions, which may be only a few months at most for subscriptions covered by zone pricing and requiring lighter construction.

As corrective measures, the Energy Agency obliges Caruna to straighten up and, among other things, correct the delivery times of its customers’ subscriptions in accordance with the Electricity Market Act and eliminate unjustified delays in the delivery of customers’ subscriptions.

The Energy Agency’s decision is not yet legally binding.

Caruna still has to comply with the Energy Agency’s decision despite a possible appeal under the Act on the Supervision of the Electricity and Natural Gas Market.

On the decision of the Energy Agency can appeal to the market court. Caruna announces that the company is still investigating the Energy Agency’s decision.

Added on 13.1. at 10:17 Caruna’s announcement on the matter.

Harsh accusation against Caruna: “The construction industry has suddenly become a pawn”Caruna hit the table with a record result – Distributed dividends of 130 million euros to the ownersA blow to electricity network companies in a dull dispute – Interim decision from the Market Court