Our assignments in energy preparedness
The Swedish Energy Agency has a specific responsibility for civil preparedness and resilience work within the energy sector. The assignment is connected both to Swedish regulations and NATO’s baseline requirement for a resilient energy supply.
Sectoral responsibilities for civil preparedness
Since 2022, the Swedish Energy Agency has sectoral responsibilities to ensure civil preparedness in the energy sector. Our mission is to strengthen coordination between relevant authorities and collaborate with the private sector, with the mission to ensure continuity of critical societal functions and enhance resilience.
Energy preparedness as a NATO ally
The Swedish NATO membership involves all parts of society and is a key foundation for building a robust and resilient defence. Sweden has a long history of having a whole of society-approach, which includes both military and civil defence. NATO highlights energy supply as one of several priority areas for strengthening civil defence. Energy supply includes fuels, electricity, heat and energy gases.
The system for prioritising essential elecetricity users
Together with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) and the Swedish transmission system operator, Svenska Kraftnät, the Swedish Energy Agency has developed a system called Styrel. It ensures that electricity is prioritised for critical societal functions during power shortages. Styrel means steering, practically prioritising, electricity to essential users in shortage situations.
Risk preparedness in the electricity sector
Since 2020, the Swedish Energy Agency has been the competent authority under the EU Risk Preparedness Regulation for the electricity sector (2019/941). The regulation aims to improve coordination within the EU in the event of electricity crises.
Regulation on risk-preparedness in the electricity sector 2019/941 (eur-lex.europa.eu)
Emergency oil stocks
To reduce vulnerability during severe disruptions in oil and fuel supply, Sweden participates in extensive international cooperation and agreements. Sweden’s stockholding obligation is linked to EU legislation and commitments under the International Energy Program (IEP), a joint energy programme between 32 countries.
Overall security of energy supply
The Swedish Energy Agency has the coordinating responsibility for overall energy supply security in the event of shortages. This includes:
- developing strategies and action plans to manage disruptions
- monitoring and analysing global trends with a focus on market developments, such as imports, exports, storage and refining capacity
- conducting knowledge-building initiatives targeting industry, consumers and public sector actors
Regulatory authority
The Swedish Energy Agency acts as the regulatory authority for individual operators in the energy sector who conduct security-sensitive activities in the areas of district heating, natural gas, oil and fuels.
We also supervise organisations that have identified themselves as providers of essential services within the energy sector.
