Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency) has started paying out the electricity price subsidy to everyone whose name appeared on an electricity network agreement in southern Sweden (electricity area three and four) on 17 November last year.

– It takes three bank days, so the first people get their money on February 23, Fredrik Falk, director of operations at Försäkringskassan, previously told TT.

But not everyone will have the money in their account on Thursday. Firstly, you must have registered your account number with Swedbank in order to be included in the first payment. The subsidy is partly paid out in instalments.

– There are 4.3 million payments, so it will take quite a number of days, said Falk.

Criticism from entrepreneurs

But there is uncertainty when it comes to payment of the subsidies for northern Sweden consumers, to compensate for the winter's expensive electricity. 

So far, the Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch (KD) has said that the electricity support for November and December to households throughout Sweden will be paid out "some time this spring".

Nor is there any clear information for companies waiting for compensation for electricity costs. The Enberg Market Inspectorate approved the proposal over a month ago, but the government had still not, as late as last week, sought permission from the European Commission for the electricity subsidy, a delay which has been criticised.

– It endangers the survival of many companies. You need short-term credits to be able to overcome the liquidity problems you have right now, says Günter Mårder, CEO of the organization Företagarna to the Dagens Nyheter newspaper.