The attitudes towards the electricity market were also examined by an extensive series of questions that conceptually comes quite close to the advantages vs. disadvantages theme of the previous chapter. The aim was to obtain an overall picture based on a strictly structured comparative arrangement on how the current system is considered to have functioned so far. The people were to assess twenty-one different matters and actors separately according to whether the market-based system has been of an advantage or disadvantage to them/from their point of view.

The overall view of the assessments is cautiously hesitant. The area covered by both neutral opinions (‘no effect’) and those wholly without an opinion (‘I don’t know’) in the result profile is extensive. The advantage most often recognised is the increase in consumers’ opportunities for choice. In terms of this two out of three (66%) considered the market-based system to be of an advantage and very few considered it to be of a disadvantage (3%). Without underrating the value of the matter – this is a central objective set for the system – one may ask to what extent the advantage is felt to be in principle only. Competitive bidding among electricity suppliers, much less changing suppliers, has hardly even been seriously considered by the large majority of Finns, not to mention taking practical measures [Figure 39.].

Those receiving advantages ranked next show echoes of the option debate over the energy sector and other media publicity. Both managers of electricity companies (54%/6%) and their owners (53%/8%) are nominated as clear beneficiaries. The business benefits obtained are also more widely connected to the development of the profitability of the sector (44%/8%). Also from the point of view of competition and the increased efficiency of the operations in the energy sector the system is assessed to have been of an obvious advantage (43%/6%).

The assessments on the price of electricity are somewhat more divided. Measured in this way, from the point of view of the price of electricity for households and the price trend the system is assessed to have been of an advantage (34%) rather than of a disadvantage (19%). The view of the effect of the electricity market on price is shown to be more positive than when measured by the separate questions above. The effect on the price of electricity for corporate customers is more indistinct as it is more difficult to assess; however, the positive opinions are also emphasised (32%/4%). The weak stability of prices is more troublesome than the level of prices. From the point of view of the price stability of electricity, the market-based system is considered to have been a disadvantage (33%) rather than an advantage (15%).

In other respects the assessments on effects remain rather neutral. However, it is noteworthy that many issues criticised in public, such as the reliability of supply that has been claimed to have weakened, do not arouse significant criticism among citizens. The public image and reputation of the energy industry is not felt to have particularly suffered either; the assessment of the matter ends up in an almost complete draw (26% consider them to have improved, 25% consider them to have weakened). All in all, the overall image represented by the results can be considered relatively positive, at least if compared with the results of the attitude claims concerning the electricity market examined above. The conclusion according to which the electricity market receives a more lenient treatment from citizens than from the media – in view of the mainstream of news coverage – is probably not unfounded either.

The basic tone of the assessments emphasising positive aspects is illustrated when the results are examined as factor-specific net effects (differences between the proportions of positive and negative assessments). The ‘propeller’ outlined from these is asymmetrically one-bladed while the majority of the assessments emphasise acceptance. However, it must be noted in the interpretation that the neutral and uncertain opinions that are hidden in the diagram are in many respects dominant. In addition to price stability, which is the most important target of criticism, matters that are emphasised negatively are primarily the employment of the energy sector and the position of personnel, which are slightly more often considered to have weakened than improved [Figure 40.].

When the results are assessed, it must be noted that they do not mean a final grade on the success of the system. As the system is still fairly new and adaptation to its practices is still under way – both among players in the sector and among citizens who react to their actions – it is a question of an interim analysis of the situation. The great number uncertain respondents can be interpreted as a kind of anticipatory ‘let’s see’ attitude. The future will show which way the balance of public opinion will tip.