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 to energy production and energy strategy. The data are part of an extensive survey series launched in 1983. The respondents' conceptions, opinions, beliefs, assessments, attitudes, and knowledge about energy issues were studied by presenting them with a number of statements relating to energy production, energy sources, climate change, energy prices, pollution, etc. The respondents were asked whether the liberalisation of the energy market has been an advantage or disadvantage to energy price levels, customer choice, energy producers and their image, use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, prevention of climate change, future generations, etc. They were also asked whether Finland should increase or decrease the use of certain energy sources (e.g. coal, peat, natural gas, nuclear power, water power, wind power, bioenergy) in electricity generation.
Background variables included the respondent's gender, age group, basic and vocational education, economic activity and occupational status, size of municipality of residence, region of residence, and which political party R would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held at that time.
The questionnaire was sent to 6,600 persons aged 18 - 70, randomly sampled from Finland's population register. Altogether, three separate samples were drawn. The entire Finnish population, including both Swedish-speaking and Finnish-speaking persons but excluding the Åland Islands residents, was represented by a sample of 5,000 persons. One additional sample of 600 persons represented the inhabitants of Loviisa, and another of 1,000 persons represented the inhabitants of Eurajoki. The respondents received either a Finnish or Swedish questionnaire according to their mother tongue.
No reminder letters were sent but the sample size was increased to reach the target number of responses. The number of adequately completed questionnaires was 1,278 and the total response rate was 19.4. Response rate varied somewhat between the samples: for the sample representing the entire Finnish population it was 19.6%, for Loviisa 20.3% and for Eurajoki 17.7%.