District heat in a housing company
Are you building a new house or changing your heating system? Or maybe you would like to update the energy efficiency of your current district heating system or change the heating to be carbon neutral? On this page you will find further information about Helen’s district heat.
We will renew district heating products for our consumer, housing company, and business customers at the beginning of next year. Familiarize yourself with the key changes.
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Why district heat?
District heating brings comfort. It is a stable, carefree and reliable heating solution that is suitable for all types of properties. The use of district heat is simple. The life cycle of the equipment is long, and it does not need much maintenance. With district heat, you can heat the indoor spaces and service water of your property. There is always enough district heat in all weather conditions, and the amount of hot water adapts to the needs of the housing company. District heating is a sustainable heating choice in an urban area.
- Helen’s security of district heat supply is among the best in the world.
- District heat has many uses. It is possible to have an energy-efficient water-circulated underfloor heating in houses with district heating. In addition, district heat keeps paths and yard decks free of snow and ice in the winter.
- District heating is suitable for both new and old properties, and it operates reliably together with other heating forms and energy efficiency solutions.
Helen’s district heat becomes carbon neutral
In 2023, we will close the Hanasaari power plant and halve the use of coal. In 2024 we will phase out the use of coal at the Salmisaari power plant, after which our production will be completely carbon-free. Production will be replaced with energy storage, waste heat, bioheat, and solar and wind power.
Already now our customers can turn their current district heat carbon-neutral or emission-free with the supplementary services in district heat.
Turn district heat carbon-neutral with these supplementary services
Eco Heat Flow
By upgrading heating to Eco Heat Flow, you reduce the property’s carbon footprint in a concrete way and contribute to the production of local, zero-carbon energy. The origin of heat is certified with guarantees of origin for renewable heat and waste heat, granted by Energy Authority. A small extra fee for Eco Heat Flow is added on top of the normal district heat contract prices.
Eco Heat Bio
By upgrading heating to Eco Heat Bio, you reduce the property’s carbon footprint in a concrete way and contribute to local renewable energy production. The origin of heat is certified with a guarantee of origin for renewable heat granted by Energy Authority. A small extra fee for Eco Heat Bio is added on top of the normal district heat contract prices.
Stages of acquiring district heat
The customer requests a budgetary or binding offer on a district heat connection.
The customer’s HVAC designer submits the technical plans to Helen for inspection, on the basis of which Helen makes a binding offer on a district heat connection and sends it to the customer for approval.
After the customer has accepted the offer, we will start planning the building and implementation of the connection according to the customer’s preferred time schedule. The connection will be ready in about 68 weeks from accepting the offer.
In addition to the district heat connection, you must acquire and install a heat distribution centre for district heat. In the heat distribution centre, the thermal energy of the district heating water is conducted to the water circulating in the property’s heating circuit and domestic hot water.
Our experts take care of the functioning of the design and implementation of your equipment by inspecting the technical plans and carrying out the commissioning and final inspections on site.
After the district heat connection has been built and the district heat substation is found to be safe and operational, the heat supply can be started.
Frequently asked questions about fixed-priced district heat
Fixed-priced district heat is a fixed-term energy product aimed at all our district heat customers, where the energy fees for the four price periods of district heat will not change in 3 years.
The product has 4 price periods (winter/spring/summer/autumn) in the same way as the basic district heat product. When you sign a product contract, the period prices published at the time will remain unchanged throughout the contract period, i.e. 36 months.
The product contract will enter into force from the beginning of the next calendar month of the order. After the contract period, you can continue with a new three-year contract period or return to the basic district heat product.
The requirement for offering the product is that we have made price hedgings corresponding to the customer’s heat usage. Therefore, in terms of our major customers (heat usage over 1,000 MWh per year) we will agree the start of the contract period separately.
Fixed-priced district heat is a fixed-term product with 4 unchanged price periods throughout the entire contract period. The energy fees of the four price periods of the ordinary district heat product are updated four times a year and the contract is valid until further notice.
The heating market is undergoing a transition and it is difficult to predict variable costs, such as the price of fuel, electricity and emission allowances, very far into the future. For a period of three years, we can offer our customers a competitive and attractive alternative to the basic district heat product.
The product is valid for a fixed term of three years (36 months).
After the contract period has ended, you will be moved automatically back to the delivery of the district heat product. You can also sign a new fixed-term contract where the prices are determined according to the price list valid at that time.
In the case of a business, the contract for the product continues automatically and transfers to the new owner or occupant in accordance with the original contract. For residents living in a detached or one-family house, the contract will be terminated upon the sale of the property or when they move away.
The price of the product will not change in the middle of the contract period. However, Helen has the right to transfer any tax increases, new taxes, tax-like payments and increases in existing and future official fees that enter into force during the contract period to the price of the product according to their price impacts.
You can complete the contact form on the product website.
The contract will enter into force from the beginning of the calendar month following the time of the order.
The pricing of district heat is based on the costs of the production and distribution of heat. The price consists of the energy fee and the water flow charge.
The energy fee covers variable costs related to heat production and distribution. These costs include, e.g. the costs of the energy sources we use, energy taxes, emission allowances, and electricity consumption.
In Fixed-Priced District Heat, we hedge the costs of heat production for the next three years, and that way we can offer unchanged periodic energy fees. The energy fees include the costs of hedging and any weather risk.
With the water flow charge, we safeguard disturbance-free heat deliveries and make sure that there is enough heat for everyone even during the coldest times of the year. The charge covers fixed costs of district heat production and distribution, such as investments in production plants and the network, and their maintenance. The amount of water flow charge depends on the type of building and the thermal power needed by the property.
In Fixed-Priced District Heat, the water flow charge is the same as with the District Heat product.