Electricity costs to rise following introduction of excise tax

Retail prices of electricity are expected to increase by some 10% to 20% following the planned introduction of an excise tax on electricity. The law, which has just been approved by the Senate, is now headed back to the Sejm for a vote. "The bill then has to be signed by the President, and afterwards detailed executive regulations need to be issued. I think our customers don't have to worry about a price hike for at least another three months," said Jacek Filipowicz, spokesperson for Warsaw electricity distributor Stoen. The Energy Regulation Office (URE) estimates that end-users will have to pay some 10% more for energy after the tax is introduced. However, Jacek Piekacz, Director of the Research Department at the Elektrocieplownie Warszawskie power and heating plant, expects the hike to reach around 17%. (Zycie, Feb. 9-10, p. 7) T.J.