In a letter to the editor published in Dagens Nyheter, Marie Morin questions the rationale behind Sweden's new efficiency fee, particularly its impact on households that consume relatively little electricity. Morin suggests that households with low energy usage, specifically those consuming less than 3,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, should be exempt from this fee. She argues that the intention of such a fee could not possibly be to discourage the cooking of warm meals at dinner time, as it disproportionately affects those who are not significant energy consumers.

Morin highlights a scenario where a typical household, referred to as 'tant' who uses approximately 150 kWh per month, faces an additional surcharge of 75 SEK whenever they choose to cook a warm meal during peak hours. This situation exemplifies how the efficiency fee can serve as a deterrent for individuals who want to prepare traditional meals such as pork pancakes. Morin's letter reflects a broader concern about how government policies may inadvertently punish low-energy consumers while failing to address the nuances of energy consumption effectively.

Overall, the letter strikes a chord with many who are feeling the pinch of rising energy costs amid ongoing economic challenges. It raises critical questions about the effectiveness and fairness of policies intended to manage energy consumption and whether alternative approaches might better serve the interests of lower-energy households. Morin's advice to reconsider the applicability of the efficiency fee for low consumers is a call for a more nuanced approach to energy policy in Sweden.