Svenska kraftnät has recently warned of uncertainty regarding electricity prices this winter and upcoming price peaks in both Malmö and Stockholm. A strained situation awaits the authority responsible for Sweden's electricity supply.
At the same time, there is strong dissatisfaction within SVK's management and internal criticism of the new general manager Maja Lundbäck. In several articles, DN has talked about the problems since she took office at the end of August. Three key people have left, according to DN's sources, because of Lundbäck's way of leading the organization.
The sources, who are all high up in the organization, wish to remain anonymous and describe that a culture of silence has been created with the new director general.
- We absolutely do not want to see anything that resembles a culture of silence. It is unacceptable that employees are scolded or accused of a lack of loyalty, board chairman Torbjörn Wahlborg told DN after the last board meeting.
On Tuesday, an extraordinary board meeting was held to discuss the data in DN and other media's reporting. Information about misconduct has also been presented directly to board members and unions at the authority.
In an interview with DN, director general Maja Lundbäck develops her view of the situation.
- We have an exceptional global situation. And I have a clear mandate for change from the government. What's important to me now is that we get to the bottom of this. If it is the case that I have broken, it is of course very serious.
In a post on SVK's intranet, which DN has seen, the director-general writes that she has not gone all the way, under the heading "I want to apologize":
"I therefore want to take this opportunity to give you a sincere and humble apology for the times my actions have created uncertainty, stress or insecurity at the authority".
- If I've messed up, I have to make sure to correct myself, quite simply. Redo and do right.
After reporting on the problems at the authority, Maja Lundbäck has initiated an independent survey of the work environment, which is planned to be completed before Christmas.
- It is very important to really get a grip on this, and show how much more measures we need to take, says Lundbäck.
Was this job harder than you thought?
- Both and. Some parts have been easier and others have been more difficult. Overall, I have come to an organization with great employees and managers who have delivered on this new direction. And received me in a way that is... well, I'm really touched. I am so happy and proud to be here.
As part of the crisis management, Lundbäck has also made a public statement on the Linkedin platform. "A culture of silence is completely devastating for an expert organization like ours, where the broad and deep competence is the very foundation," she writes, among other things.
Several sources within SVK's management have testified to DN that the new director general should not have been interested in input from other managers.
Is it something you need to work on?
- If they perceive it, I need to correct myself here. As a top manager, you need to be able to meet your employees and subordinate managers in a way that they feel comfortable with.
Three employees with central roles for SVK have chosen to quit since Maja Lundbäck took office at the end of the summer. For DN, a large number of sources state that the reorganization in itself is not the problem, but that the defections are about the director general's leadership.
Are you worried that more senior managers will quit in a situation where Svenska kraftnät is facing large billion-dollar projects and a difficult winter?
- Svenska kraftnät's personnel supply is very strong. We are several thousand employees and above all have the critical functions for the winter. Now I am doing as much as I can to reach out a hand, to solve this.
Maja Lundbäck also says that she appreciates the freedom of communication, which enables employees to alert the media, and that she chooses a transparent way of dealing with problems precisely because SVK is an authority.
- This is how the state should act. But we also need to make sure we can talk to each other internally. Here I will do everything I can for them to come to me and do it.
Have you accused employees of a lack of loyalty, something that should have been discussed at SVK's board meeting?
- I don't recognize it. But we all agree that this is not how it should be at Svenska Kraftnät. And so we have to get to the bottom of this. What has happened? In what way have I clamped crookedly? So that this also becomes concrete.
