Record-high electricity prices and surge in Christmas aid requests

Thursday has seen the highest electricity price in almost two years east of Storebælt, and several organisations are being flooded with applications for Christmas assistance. In Stevns Kommune, a new emergency response team has been established together with Køge and Solrød, and the owners behind the holiday village by the sugar factory in Stege are now seeking investors. At the same time, there were road closures on the motorways south of Copenhagen on Thursday morning.

Electricity price hits record high on Tuesday

Electricity consumers in East Denmark will pay the highest electricity price in almost two years on Tuesday. The average spot price is 2.90 kroner per kWh east of Storebælt, exceeding Monday's 2.78 kroner. That is more than double October's average of 1.22 kroner. The most expensive hour is between 16.00 and 17.00, when the price reaches 4.03 kroner per kWh, while the most expensive quarter-hour is between 08.30 and 08.45 at 4.25 kroner. For higher prices, one must look back to 12 December 2024.

The prices cover only the electricity itself. VAT, fees and network tariffs are added on top, meaning that the price between 16.00 and 17.00 comes to 6.19 kroner. According to Andel Energi, the country's largest electricity company, prices have been at a very high level since March, and there is a real risk that energy prices will be around twice as high as last winter. Sources: TV 2 Øst and TV 2 Øst

Record number applies for Christmas assistance

The Christmas Committee of 1922 opened for applications for this year's Christmas assistance on Monday 2 November, and just three days later, 86 families with 183 children had submitted their applications. The Christmas Committee of 1922 distributes Christmas assistance to poor families with children in Holbæk Kommune, which is the local authority.

At Blå Kors Danmark, 6,880 applications had been received within 24 hours of the opening, compared with 5,000 the year before, while at Dansk Folkehjælp, the number of applications remained steady at 15,000 until the application deadline on 23 November. The money is used, among other things, for Christmas food, supermarket gift cards and presents. Source: TV 2 Øst

New emergency services in three municipalities

Stevns Municipality has joined forces with the neighbouring municipalities of Køge and Solrød to form a new emergency services arrangement. From now on, it will also be Falck that extinguishes fires in the municipality. The municipalities have joined together in the new company in order to make the emergency services more robust and effective.

The new emergency services arrangement has been named Brand & Redning Køge-Solrød-Stevns and is expected to take effect at the turn of the year. The agreement was signed on Friday. Source: TV 2 Øst

Minister visits Motalavej

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Integration Morten Bødskov (S) is touring several of the country's socially challenged housing areas to gather inspiration for a new government initiative. On Monday, he visited Motalavej in Korsør in Slagelse Municipality, which was previously on the so-called hard ghettolist for 4 years in a row. There, the minister spoke with Mayor Knud Vincents (V), the local police and social workers.

According to the minister, some people use violence, threats and negative social control to ensure that young people do not become too Danish. He calls it a huge challenge to break the patterns and behaviour that have developed over far too many years. Before visiting Korsør, he had also visited Holbæk, among other places. Source: TV 2 Øst

Sugar Factory Seeks Investors for Holiday Resort

After several years of working on plans for a holiday resort at the old sugar factory in Stege on Møn, the board of owners is now seeking investors for the project. This was announced by EDC Erhverv Poul Erik Bech, who has been appointed to handle the sale of all or parts of the project. According to the director of Sukkerfabrikken Møn, the project's legal basis has now finally been approved by all relevant authorities.

The plans include, among other things, a hotel, restaurants and up to 500 holiday homes, including 25 homes on stilts in the water. The project was previously delayed by complaints, which were finally rejected in 2023. Source: TV 2 Øst

Traffic problems Tuesday morning

Tuesday morning, Sydmotorvejen was closed southbound after exit 35 Haslev at Piberhus Rasteplads due to an accident in which a truck lost its trailer, causing a collision between several cars. Drivers were instructed to leave at exit 35 Haslev at the latest. The accident has now been cleared up, and both lanes are passable again.

At the same time, the entrance to exit 37 Rønnede was closed on Tuesday morning in the direction of Rødby while road assistance was recovering a car. This is according to Vejdirektoratet's traffic information. Vejdirektoratet is the state's road authority. Sources: TV 2 Øst and TV 2 Øst

In brief

• The company Søuld makes acoustic products from eelgrass harvested along the Danish coast. DR Nyheder Sjælland
• At Min Købmand in Mern, high electricity prices could mean operating costs of around 20,000 kroner more for the shop this month. TV 2 Øst
• Former member of parliament Christian H. Hansen has founded the party Grønne Borgerlige together with four other initiators. The party was launched at Hotel Kirstine in Næstved. DR Nyheder Sjælland
• The Michelin restaurant MOTA in Nykøbing Sjælland has won the 2026 Dish of the Year with fish and seafood prize, worth 25,000 kroner. TV 2 Øst
• A new action plan worth 10 million kroner is intended to remove and prevent abandoned fishing nets in Danish waters, according to the Ministry of the Environment. TV 2 Øst
• 2 hairdressing brothers closed their salon in Kalundborg on Monday to cut and shave residents at the Nyvangsparken care home for free. TV 2 Øst
• The Danish Road Directorate reports that live animals are on route 54 between Toksværd and Holme Olstrup, heading towards Næstved. TV 2 Øst