Shockingly high electricity bills worry: ”It is not possible to live like this”

– We can’t live like this, says Mustafa, who is from Syria.

He and his wife came to Sweden eight years ago and have six children. The have learnt the language, have work and have bought a house. Now everything they have fought for and built up is about to come tumbling down.

– In 2020 we hade an electric bill for 3 000 kronor in December but this time it is a bill for 12 000 kronor, Mustafa explains.

He hasn’t been able to think of anything else but the bill and how he is going to solve the situation.

– I earn 17 000 kronor per month and my wife earns 14 000 kronor. That is not enough to pay all of it, says Mustafa

He has spoken with Eon. They have given him the answer that the bill must be paid. Now he hopes to get a loan to able to pay the bills in the end of the month.

Mustafa says that he knows of more people that are in a worse crisis situation after receiving expensive bills, other than himself. He says that there are many in Östra Göinge who have been hit hard by this, regardless of ethnicity. He wants politicians at different levels so realize the severity in what is happening know.

– Many of us really just want to work, pay tax, have a well functioning life and for our children to have a good future. But when all expenses are increasing, it doesn’t feel good at all.

– Politicians have to adress this and find a good solution. There are many who will be hit hard. Those who are unemployed are not going to be able to pay their bills.

Abdulkarim also lives in Broby. He has four children.

– My family rents a house with a basic rent cost of 9 000 kronor and will have to pay 5 000 kronor to Eon this month. I earn 16 000 kronor, my wife attends school and gets 3 900 kronor.

– The money is not enough. In a few months my work contract ends and I will start studying. I don’t know how we will manage, he says.

Two of his friends are in the same situation. They live in apartments with large families and pay for electricity in the household.

– The amount on the bills increased from 400 to 800 and now it is up to 1 500, says Zackaria who doesn’t know how he will manage to pay.

Ahmed also has a large family and a low income. He says he is worried about the situation.

In Abdulkarim’s household everything is being done to lower the cost of electricity. The indoor temperature has been lowered and during the night the family huddles together in one room so they do not freeze.

That the government now have decided that those who are worst affected should get a share back on their electricity bill, is not reassuring. Not everyone is entitled to compensation.

– ”A little numbing”, Mustafa calls the 2 000 kronor compensation he can get out of the 12 000 kronor.