Energy prices in Poland among highest in Europe: ministry
20:13
Energy prices in Poland are among the highest in Europe, according to an analysis commissioned by the development ministry. The prices are the highest in comparison with the neighboring developed nations.
The analysis shows that prices on the Polish market differ significantly both in terms of the level and the trend in which the average price of electricity in the country’s adjacent neighbors moves.
On average, from 2015-2019, energy prices in Poland were 19 percent higher than in Germany. The Czech Republic (20 percent), Slovakia (16 percent) and Romania (7 percent) followed.
The ministry claimed that the difference included regulatory fees and that the prices translate negatively for the Polish steel industry, where 40 percent of the processing costs are energy costs.
The report follows the change of tack in relation to the electricity compensation offered by the government.
Earlier in an interview for the Polish private broadcaster RMF FM, deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin said that “every” Polish family will be supported and nobody would feel the pinch owing to surging costs. However, recently, he made a U-turn and stated that only families with monthly incomes of less than PLN 5,100 (€1,200) will be offered any relief.
With energy prices set to rise up to 12 percent for Polish households in 2020, taxpayers will foot the estimated PLN 3 billion (€710 million) bill in the year to offset the shooting costs.
(PAP)
