Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter.

Households consuming more than 2,000 kilowatt hours per month can get compensation worth about 2,000 kronor ($220) per month for the three months December-February. Some 1.8 million households are affected, the government said.

More Images
Power lines in winter landscape in the countryside north of Stockholm, Sweden, on Feb. 10, 2021. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills. (Janerik HerikssonTT via AP)

Power lines in winter landscape in the countryside north of Stockholm, Sweden, on Feb. 10, 2021. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills. (Janerik HerikssonTT via AP)

Power lines north of Sundsvall, Sweden, on Nov. 29, 2021. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills. (Anders ViklundTT via AP)

Power lines north of Sundsvall, Sweden, on Nov. 29, 2021. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills. (Anders ViklundTT via AP)

Sweden's Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg speaks during a press conference at the Rosenbad building, in Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter. “This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” Damberg said. (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

Sweden's Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg speaks during a press conference at the Rosenbad building, in Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter. “This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” Damberg said. (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

Sweden's Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg and Minister of Energy and Digitalization Khashayar Farmanbar speak during a press conference at the Rosenbad building, in Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter. “This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” Damberg said. (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

Sweden's Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg and Minister of Energy and Digitalization Khashayar Farmanbar speak during a press conference at the Rosenbad building, in Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter. “This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” Damberg said. (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

Swedish Minister of Energy and Digitalisation Khashayar Farmanbar attends a press conference in Rosenbad, Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

Swedish Minister of Energy and Digitalisation Khashayar Farmanbar attends a press conference in Rosenbad, Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

“This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” said Finance Minister Mikkel Damberg.

Power lines in winter landscape in the countryside north of Stockholm, Sweden, on Feb. 10, 2021. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills. (Janerik HerikssonTT via AP)

Power lines in winter landscape in the countryside north of Stockholm, Sweden, on Feb. 10, 2021. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills. (Janerik HerikssonTT via AP)

Sweden's one-party, minority Social Democratic government is expected to get majority backing for the plan in the 349-seat Riksdag.

Home owners in Sweden have already started adopting strategies to lower their consumption — turning down the heating, closing off rooms, using alternative heat sources like wood log burners and wearing thick wooly socks.

“It’s a crazy situation to be in,” said Hannah Hall who lives in an old wooden house in Kristinehamn, a small town in central Sweden. “I was aware it would be an expensive winter, but it feels unprecedented.”

Power lines north of Sundsvall, Sweden, on Nov. 29, 2021. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills. (Anders ViklundTT via AP)

Power lines north of Sundsvall, Sweden, on Nov. 29, 2021. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills. (Anders ViklundTT via AP)

Hall was billed 10,400 kronor ($1,150) for her December electricity consumption, about double the previous year, to heat her 130 square meter (1,400 square feet) home.

The fact that Hall has been working from home because of the pandemic has added to their heating requirements. Thick wooly socks meant as a fun gift by her employer as her company shifted to work-from-home have come in handy and her husband has stopped using their small outhouse as a home office to avoid turning on the extra heater.

“We’re in a lucky financial situation … but other people, it must be really tough and a big worry,” she said, adding they use 23,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year.

Sweden's Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg speaks during a press conference at the Rosenbad building, in Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter. “This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” Damberg said. (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

Sweden's Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg speaks during a press conference at the Rosenbad building, in Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter. “This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” Damberg said. (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

There have been reports of people taking bank loans to be able to pay their electricity bill.

“I understand that people are worried about their finances,” Sweden’s Energy Minister Khashayar Farmanbar said.

In December, neighboring Norway said support will be available to households that use up to 5,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each month. The move will cost the nation about 5 billion kroner ($567 million).

Sweden's Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg and Minister of Energy and Digitalization Khashayar Farmanbar speak during a press conference at the Rosenbad building, in Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter. “This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” Damberg said. (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

Sweden's Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg and Minister of Energy and Digitalization Khashayar Farmanbar speak during a press conference at the Rosenbad building, in Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter. “This is an exceptional measure in an exceptional situation, it is unusual to go in with support when prices fluctuate in markets,” Damberg said. (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

“We have focused on helping as many people as possible," Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum said in December. "We hope that these measures will provide a little more breathing space.”

Swedish Minister of Energy and Digitalisation Khashayar Farmanbar attends a press conference in Rosenbad, Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)

Swedish Minister of Energy and Digitalisation Khashayar Farmanbar attends a press conference in Rosenbad, Stockholm, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Sweden's government says it has earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country cope with high electricity bills this winter. Some 1.8 million households will likely get help footing soaring bills (Johan JeppssonTT via AP)