Iltalehti tells its readers that the price of electricity is a small problem - a much bigger time bomb is awaiting and the ticking has now started to be heard.
It writes that in addition to the high price of electricity, consumers are being hit by general galloping price rises. In a market economy, high prices are an effective incentive to curb consumption. When we think about the even bigger crisis, climate change, the government's support measures should encourage a reduction in consumption, Iltalehti argues.
However, the paper also says that any acute electricity crisis and the current high level of inflation are likely to be temporary, and will certainly be overcome in Finland.
The big problem seen by Iltalehti is growing state debt, saying that the biggest problem is not necessarily even the volume of that debt in relation to the size of the Finnish economy.
It notes that according to the Governor of the Bank of Finland, Olli Rehn, the bigger concern is the way in which debt is growing. Government expenditures are constantly higher than income, interest costs are only increasing, and due to the aging of the Finnish population, the pressure on spending growth is increasing.
Many other countries have much more debt than Finland. But the problem in Finland is that the demographic structure of Finland will cause problems earlier than in other countries.
Rovaniemi's Lapin Kansa takes a very similar view, writing that a long-running discussion about Finland's indebtedness has been on hold due to the coronavirus and Russia's attack on Ukraine.
Indebtedness has become a habit, the paper writes, and higher costs for health services are just ahead.
"Borrowing," writes Lapin Kansa, "has become Finland's new dogma."
Electricity shortages and blackouts
The national electricity transmission grid operator Fingrid has warned that Finland should be prepared for power outages caused by a possible power shortage this coming winter, reports Ilta-Sanomat's business and economic service IS Taloussanomat.
Fingrid has published its first assessment of electricity sufficiency for the upcoming winter months, according to which peak consumption may rise to around 15,100 megawatts. Average peak consumption for the years 2007–2022 was about 14,000 megawatts.
It is estimated that domestic power generation will be able to cover 12,300 megawatts of consumption at best, and in addition, there is a power reserve of 600 megawatts.
The rest will need to be covered by imports. Import capacity is 3400 megawatts, of which 2400 megawatts is from Sweden and 1000 megawatts from Estonia.
Finland usually imports electricity from Sweden, even when domestic capacity is nowhere near fully utilized. Finland also normally exports electricity to Sweden and Estonia.
Fingrid points out that the end of electricity and natural gas imports from Russia have weakened the situation in Finland compared to previous winters.
There is also uncertainty regarding the completion of the third reactor at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. Olkiluoto 3 should be in regular production in December, but a possible delay in commissioning the plant would significantly undermine the sufficiency of electricity in Finland.
Spreading "luxury drug"
Helsingin Sanomat looks at a fresh study on drug use in Finland published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL.
Based on analysis of wastewater samples, research shows a continued increase in the use of what HS calls the "luxury drug" - cocaine.
THL studied the prevalence of drug use based on wastewater in 27 cities and their surrounding areas in March of this year. The survey covers about 60 percent of the Finnish population. For Helsinki, Tampere and Turku, the samples are for the year up to August.
The THL study indicates that the use of cocaine is increasingly concentrated in the capital region. The drug is not uncommon in southern parts of the country, but much less used north of Tampere.
In contrast, amphetamine use is found throughout the country, but has still remained lower than in the record year 2020.
According to the head of THL's Forensic Chemistry Unit, Teemu Gunnar, the increase in cocaine use is mainly due to the fact that the substance has been widely available in southern and central Europe in recent years. This is also being reflected in the situation in Finland.
Chilly weekend
Helsinki's Swedish-language daily Hufvudstadsbladet tells readers who are planning to head to a country cottage or sit in the stands at the Olympic Stadium to watch the athletics national championships this weekend that they would do well to put on a warm sweater and jacket.
FMI meteorologist Hannu Valta told the paper that in southern Finland and along the west coast, it will be approximately 3–5 degrees colder than normal for the time of year over the next few days.
That translates into daytime highs of around 13–15 degrees in southern Finland, and around 12–13 degrees in Ostrobothnia.
Nights are getting colder, too, with the chance of nighttime frosts throughout the country.
And, August's dry weather in southern areas is continuing, which means mushroom hunting enthusiasts will have little luck, at least this weekend.