The survey series was launched in 1983 at the University of Tampere, and was initially financed by the energy company Imatran Voima (later known as the Fortum Corporation). Finnish public opinion on energy policy issues was studied by annual mail surveys. Comparative data allow detailed empirical analysis and systematic follow-up of citizen perceptions, opinions, beliefs, knowledge, values, and attitudes on these matters.
The surveys were carried out by Yhdyskuntatutkimus and jointly produced by the Fortum Corporation (Imatran Voima until 1998) and Teollisuuden Voima (TVO). The Finnish Energy Industries (ET) was responsible for publishing the results from 2004 onwards. The data collection for this series has been finished, but the same themes are studied in the Finnish Energy Attitudes series.
The survey charted Finnish attitudes towards energy policy issues. The data are part of an extensive survey series launched in 1983. The respondents' conceptions, opinions, beliefs, assessments, attitudes, and knowledge about various energy issues were studied by presenting several statements about energy production and energy conservation. The respondents were also asked in what direction electric power production should be developed in Finland.
Some questions charted what motivates or hinders citizens' individual energy saving, and probed the respondents' views on how reliable they thought certain bodies (e.g. electric power companies, nature conservation organizations) were as an information source of household energy saving issues. The respondents were also asked what they thought about the parliament's decision not to approve the construction of a fifth nuclear power plant.
Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, size of the municipality of residence, region, occupation, education, and which political party R would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held at that time.
The questionnaire was sent to 3,000 persons. There were three separate samples. The entire Finnish population (excluding the Åland Islands citizens) was represented by a group of 2,500 persons aged between 17 and 70, randomly sampled from the population register. The respondents received a questionnaire in Finnish or Swedish, depending on their native language. Two additional samples represented municipalities with nuclear power plants: Loviisa (250 persons) and Eurajoki (250 persons). 1,916 adequately completed questionnaires were returned and the total response rate was 63.9%. Response rate varied somewhat between different samples: in the sample representing the entire Finnish population it was 64.3%, in the Loviisa sample 60.0%, and in the Eurajoki sample 63.6%.