When demand for electricity is greater than what is currently possible to produce or import a last resort is to disconnect consumers from the electricity system in order to maintain the balance of the system. When and how such a manual disconnection takes place is based on a national planning system, coined styrel.

The authors provide a thorough review of the national planning process. They describe the responsible actors, how critical electricity users are identified and prioritised, and provide guidance on how to improve the planning process.

Pär M. Olausson is associate professor of political science and researcher in Risk & Crisis Research Centre at Mid-Sweden University, Östersund.