Tesla Sweden Appeals After Grid Operator Refuses to Reconnect Supercharger Over Union Sympathy Strike

Tesla Sweden has filed an appeal with Swedish energy regulators after a local power grid company refused to restore power to an existing Supercharger station, citing ongoing union sympathy actions that have disrupted charging infrastructure work in the country.

The affected Supercharger site in Åre had been operational until last April, when it was temporarily disconnected for safety reasons. According to Tesla, a temporary construction power cabinet that supplied the station fell over “under unclear circumstances,” prompting the power to be cut at the request of the company’s installation contractor to ensure safe repair work.

While the safety issue was resolved, Jämtkraft elnät, the local grid operator, declined to bring the station’s charging stalls back online. CEO Stefan Sedin told local media that power would not be restored to the station as long as Tesla’s union dispute continues, noting that the decision was based on guidance from the employer organization and sympathy measures tied to the labor action.

The union sympathy actions, which began in March 2024, extend to a broad range of work involving Tesla’s charging network in Sweden, including planning, maintenance, repairs, and new grid connections. These actions have effectively stalled both new Supercharger grid hookups and the reconnection of previously energized sites.

In its appeal to the Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate, Tesla Sweden argued that restoring power to an existing facility should not be treated the same as establishing a new grid connection and therefore should not fall under the sympathy measures being enforced by unions. The company insists that reconnecting the station is necessary to serve EV drivers and maintain charging access for EV owners in the region.

Sedin emphasized that Jämtkraft elnät itself does not have a direct conflict with Tesla and is acting in accordance with the broader union measures rather than refusing service on its own accord. He noted that if the operator’s assessment is later found to be incorrect, they would correct the decision.

The situation adds to ongoing tensions between Tesla and Swedish labor unions, which have impacted Supercharger deployments and other aspects of the company’s operations in the country, making it a continuing point of contention in Sweden’s EV infrastructure rollout.