In the Finnish electricity sector, Herrfors is number one in customer satisfaction
When the energy crisis hit Europe in 2022 following the war in Ukraine, electricity prices started skyrocketing. However, utilities with electricity production of their own were not that affected by high market prices. One of these utilities is Herrfors, who operates in the Jakobstad, Kokkola and Ylivieska areas in the Northern Ostrobothnia region in Finland.
“We decided early on that we would not raise our electricity price for private customers and small businesses. We were able to do that since we are self-sufficient as we produce almost all the electricity we sell”, explains Production Director Andreas Rasmus.
This decision, although it had its risks, turned out to be a wise one. An annual customer satisfaction survey conducted among Finnish electricity consumers revealed that Herrfors’ customers were by far the most satisfied ones in the whole country in 2022. What is more, the company has been able to attract a lot of new customers from all over Finland, thanks to its good reputation.
This decision, although it had its risks, turned out to be a wise one
“Our strategy has always been to focus on the people and companies in our core geographical area, and it has turned out to be a very good strategy in these turbulent times”, says Cajsa Sahlström, Manager for business customers sales.
Another success factor for Herrfors has been its long-term investments in renewable electricity production. The company is one of the owners of Alholmens Kraft, a pioneering biofuel power power plant built in the early 2000s already. Herrfors has also been a forerunner in wind power, and one of the latest investments in the pipeline is a pilot hydrogen plant.
“The aim is to turn surplus wind and solar power into hydrogen that can then be used by the industry. If everything goes according to plan, our pilot plant will be built in 2024. This investment would replace fossil gas used by the industry and support the transition towards a carbon-neutral society”, Rasmus explains.
