The government is coming up with a separate package to help sports teams and other voluntary organizations with the high electricity prices.
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– It is gratifying that you look in the direction of sports. We have been holding on for the last few days and scratching our heads, says general manager of the leader of Strømsgodset IF, Ingvild Dyve to VG.
The power has been unusually high in recent months, and it has created a financial headache for many.
– This was good news and a real relief for all our sports teams which have now held their breath for several weeks in anticipation of a national support scheme that compensates for the sky-high electricity prices should be put in place, says sports president Berit Kjøll.
Sports clubs and other voluntary teams and associations have so far not been part of the government’s previous electricity measures. The scheme will apply from December 2021 to March 2022.
– The high electricity prices have created great challenges for very many teams and associations. They have been in danger of either having to cut back on activity or demand increased participation fees to pay their bills, says Minister of Culture and Gender Equality Anette Trettebergstuen in a press release.
She continues:
– It would directly affect the leisure activities for children and young people, who have already sacrificed a lot through the pandemic.
A number of sports clubs and associations have recently expressed concern about the high electricity prices in various media. The Norwegian Sports Confederation has also called the situation worrying.
For Strømsgodset IF, the high electricity prices have, among other things, led to them having to turn off the underfloor heating on their track, says Dyve, who is grateful for the support scheme.
– From what I see, it helps considerably.
«The electricity subsidy to voluntary organizations will be distributed in municipalities that have had an average electricity price in December of more than 70 øre per kWt. The municipalities will then distribute the subsidy to local teams and associations ».
The power package will be calculated according to approximately the same model as that which applies to households. They are covered 80 percent of the electricity costs that exceed 70 øre per kWt.
– The uncertainty in recent weeks has led to a real fear of both closed sports facilities and that the additional cost to the sports teams must be covered in other ways, for example through increased membership fees or training fees. Such a development would be very unfortunate and in the worst case contributed to increasing the financial barriers to participation in sports, says Kjøll.
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