Another liberalisation delay

Denmark's new wind power prices will not now take effect until January 1. They were due to come into force at the start of December, but administrative logistics make the original schedule impossible to keep to. The energy agency's Susanne Bastiansen explains that the statutory instrument behind the administrative framework for the new prices is currently with the respective energy spokespeople of each political party behind Denmark's electricity market liberalisation (Windpower Monthly, November 2000). From there the document must be presented to the parliamentary energy committee. If all involved are to have time enough to comment and introduce changes, it was impossible to have it ready by December 1, she says. As a result, the around 2000 small wind turbines which are old enough to no longer qualify for premium payments under the new pricing system will receive DKK 0.60/kWh for one more month before the rate drops to DKK 0.043/kWh (Windpower Monthly, October 2000).