Some background. Sweden currently sits as the largest power exporter in Europe, both in absolute numbers and dwarfing countries like Germany per capita (10:1). Mostly due to the French nuclear power plants aging and their maintenance. France dropped from being the largest net exporter to a net importer. The country has more than 25% excess of power for the most part of the year. Neighbors like Finland, Denmark and the Baltic countries rely on the Swedish excess and export as are chronic net importers. They never reach balance. So a lot of excess for the most of the time. But when temperatures drop, like they do on a few really cold winter nights, once every 10 years or so (on avg.) there might be a shortage. 1980ies: Nuclear, now with a bad rep (grassroot mvmt., mentioned in the article), Sweden eventually shut part of the reactors down (Barsebäck). As a result there were shortages at the time. So Sweden replied by cutting export to Denmark at one point. Upon which Denmark SUED Sweden in the European courts for restricting export to save their own network. This was the background that led the country into power zone division. Sweden used to have one market zone for the entire country. So this is a country with a lot of excess power dragged along with the fuel prices and the open market. Adding to the problems is that countries are now totally dependent on Sweden for power and rotational mass against wind turbines. So. Excess power, still wanting and needing more. Because country-wise deficiency is now built in and the burden is shared through open markets and HVDC lines.

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