The Arvika Ski Club, established in the 1940s, is facing significant financial difficulties as electricity network fees have skyrocketed in recent years, despite the club using the same power lines as before. Erik Sundström, the club's chairman, expressed confusion and frustration over the necessity to pay high fees even during months when snow cannons are not in use. This sudden financial burden jeopardizes the club’s existence, particularly because it operates purely on a non-profit basis, aiming to offer ski activities to the local community without the intent of generating profit.

The introduction of new capacity charges threatens many volunteer-run ski clubs across Sweden. In Rackstadbacken, for example, local schools provide free skiing lessons to children, which fosters a sense of community engagement in winter sports. However, increased electricity costs stemming from the introduction of capacity fees, which are now being implemented nationwide, pose a significant threat to the sustainability of such programs. The Arvika Ski Club has already been paying for a similar capacity subscription for several years, and many clubs fear the broader implications of these costs.

The media, particularly Dagens Nyheter, has been active in reporting on the unintended consequences of these new electricity fees, which appear to disproportionately impact smaller and volunteer-based organizations like the Arvika Ski Club. The rising costs and the new effectiveness fees not only put the financial health of these clubs at risk but also threaten to reduce access to skiing for local families and young children, thereby impacting the future of winter sports participation in the region.