In this survey, the price aspect was also studied in more detail from the viewpoint of electricity price generation: if the consumer price of electricity is currently high - as is often said - why is this? The respondents were asked to evaluate twelve potential issues based on their significance in the increase of prices. This series of questions has not been included in any previous survey.

The issue that is clearly deemed the most important reason behind the increased electricity prices is profit-seeking of the companies in the sector and electricity producers. Almost nine out of ten respondents (87%) deem this at least a fairly major factor. There are hardly any respondents who disagree with this effect (7%). Without commenting on the correctness of the assessments, one can say that the public opinion is the same as the general opinion in the media. A trend of describing the 'greediness' of the sector, including outright mockery, has been prevalent in the media for a long time [Figure 41].

The companies are not deemed the only ones culpable, however. The results show that the respondents blame several parties. No party is deemed innocent. Even electricity consumers are rebuked: in this case, they rebuke themselves. Various rational explanations are given, so that the price increase clearly needs not be justified by the local election in Timbuktu (as in a caricature in Finland's leading newspaper).

In addition to the energy-sector parties, the significance of the government is clearly stressed. Two out of three (67%) of the respondents deem the high taxation rate and other statutory charges one reason behind the increased prices. Less than a fourth (23%) of the respondents deem the significance of these issues minor or nonexistent. Fairly many respondents also blame the emission trading system and other EU regulations (55% / 25%). The distribution is similar when assessing the total impact of various surcharges aiming at electricity conservation and reduced emissions (47% / 36%).

However, the high electricity transfer prices (66% / 14%), the fact that there is not enough competition and not enough actors in the electricity market (59% / 30%) and the consumers' unwillingness to change their electricity provider (59% / 34%) are also deemed major reasons. Some of the reasons assessed refer to the electricity generation system as a whole and decrease the emphasis on the roles of the various parties in such a way that no scapegoat is directly named. In such a case, it remains open to interpretation whether the reason is the government which has created the system or the companies who operate within the system. The basic change of the system, the transfer to an electricity market system and deregulation, remains at the bottom of the list. It is still deemed more of an increasing than a decreasing factor, however (45% / 28%). The most widely accepted reason - although with a polarized distribution - is the unfavorable production conditions in Finland (46% / 43%).