The energy fee for district heating services in the Helsinki region will increase by 30 percent from the beginning of October. Higher prices will be in force until at least until the end of April 2023, according to the energy utility Helen.
The Helsinki city-owned company said on Wednesday that the price rise follows a general increase in prices and inflation due to the unstable global situation and especially Russia’s war in Ukraine.
District heating prices are comprised of two cost factors - a fixed water flow fee and an energy fee. The water flow fee covers fixed costs of district heating, such as investments in production plants and the network, and their maintenance. The energy fee covers variable costs related to heat production. These include fuel costs, energy taxes and emission allowances.
While the water flow fee list prices will remain unchanged during the next three price periods, the energy fee for each following period will rise by 30 percent.
A price change is always measured against the preceding year's corresponding period, not over the previous price period itself. So, according to Helen, the change means that for the three-month price period starting at the beginning of October, the actual total price of district heating for consumers will rise by approximately 22 percent. For the two-month price period starting at the beginning of January 2023, the price will increase by about 23 percent, and for the spring two-month price period starting in March by about 22 percent.
Calculations are based on the average consumption for a typical single-family detached house.