National Energy, often abbreviated as NE, is the state-owned utility company of the Divine Republic of Kresimiria. Established in 1989 following the State Enterprise Act, it holds a constitutionally protected monopoly on the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and natural gas.
The company is a colossus of the Kresimirian economy, powering the heavy industries of Kakerovecska and the digital infrastructure of Decelska. However, it is also a lightning rod for political controversy. To the establishment Blue Dawn party, it is a triumph of state planning that ensures energy security; to Northern Power, it is an extractive tool that exploits the natural resources of the north to subsidize the wealthy south.
While the NGT’s administrative headquarters are in Severnivaraje, its operational heart is in Ravna Skrad. The city functions as the central logistical node for the Trust, where grain from the north is milled, processed, and distributed to the rest of the Republic. The massive NGT silos are the defining feature of the Ravna Skrad skyline.
History
The Fragmentation Era (Pre-1989)
Before 1989, Kresimiria’s energy grid was a chaotic patchwork. The industrial north was powered by private coal plants owned by mining conglomerates, while Sinj relied on a municipal utility. Rural districts like Viskogorje and Moraviskameja suffered from frequent blackouts and exorbitant prices charged by unregulated local providers.
The Sanjakorin Nationalization (1989)
In 1988, Ljubo Sanjakorin passed the State Enterprise Act to check the growing power of private capital. On January 1, 1989, the Council for Development seized all power generation assets in the Republic. Private owners were compensated with government bonds issued by STP Credit, though many claimed the valuation was pennies on the dollar.
The newly formed National Energy launched the “Light of the Republic” program in the 1990s, aggressively expanding the grid into rural villages. This initiative secured deep loyalty for Blue Dawn in the countryside for a generation.
The Hydro-Boom and Conflict (2000–Present)
In the 21st century, NE shifted focus toward hydroelectric power to meet the demands of the growing tech sector. Working with the construction giant GradnjaMC, NE dammed several rivers in the Viskogorje mountains. While this increased capacity, it flooded historic valleys and displaced communities, fueling the rise of regionalist opposition.
Infrastructure
National Energy operates two primary divisions:
NE Thermal (North)
Centered in Severnivaraje, this division operates aging coal-fired power plants.
- Fuel Source: It is the single largest customer of SeverMin, purchasing millions of tons of coal annually.
- Environmental Impact: The emissions from these plants contribute to the “Black Dust” phenomenon in Bistrica. NE is frequently sued by Northern Power for failing to install modern scrubbers.
NE Hydro (West)
Centered in Viskogorje, this division manages the massive dams on the upper Mauding River.
- The Vjetar Dam: The crown jewel of the grid. Completed in 2008 by GradnjaMC, it supplies 40% of Sinj’s electricity.
- Controversy: The dam’s construction destroyed three villages. Local activists, led by future Senator Chwa Spas, protested the project for years but were overruled by the central government.
Political Controversies
The “Colonial” Tariff
Northern Power leader Syv Iric has long campaigned against NE’s pricing structure. The company charges a unified national rate for electricity. Iric argues this is unfair: the northern districts produce the power (bearing the environmental cost of coal mining and dams) but pay the same rate as the service-economy districts in the south that consume it. He advocates for a “Local Generation Discount.”
The Privatization Debate
In the 2000s, the Civic Renewal Front (CRF) and Vjetrusa’s corporate wing pushed to privatize NE.
- Topolski’s Fall: In 2012, CRF Senator Topi Topolski proposed selling off NE’s hydroelectric assets to foreign investors to pay down national debt. This proposal was vehemently opposed by the Union of Energy Workers and Northern Power. The backlash was a key factor in Topolski’s election defeat to Chwa Spas later that year.
The “Winter Freeze” of 2009
During a particularly harsh winter in 2009, the grid faced a critical shortage. NE managers made the decision to implement rolling blackouts in the peripheral districts (IV, VI, X) to ensure uninterrupted power to the capital, Sinj, and the industrial furnaces of Novi Otonik. The revelation that the state had prioritized the capital’s comfort over the heating of mountain homes caused riots in Lipovljana and is cited as a major turning point in the north’s drift away from Blue Dawn.
Modernization
Under Ari Stov, NE has begun the “Smart Grid” initiative. This involves installing digital meters in every home, integrated with the KresiX operating system. While touted as an efficiency measure, privacy advocates warn that it gives the CIA granular data on when citizens are home and allows the state to remotely disconnect power to “non-compliant” households.