Poles have been benefiting from the Solidarity Shield since autumn, thanks to which net electricity prices for households have not increased. All households in Poland are entitled to a limit of 2 000 kWh of consumption, up to which the cost of energy is more than half subsidised by the government and energy companies. There are also higher limits - up to 3 000 kWh - but a special application has to be submitted to benefit from these. The deadline is the end of June.

The shield scheme will benefit nearly 8 million households this year, who benefit from the protection and pay their electricity bills at last year's reduced prices. The Solidarity Shield mechanism is saving between PLN 2,000 and almost PLN 3,000 on the electricity bill this year, depending on the household. This is how much less households within the consumption limits will pay for electricity. The umbrella protecting against more expensive energy covered all individual consumers in Poland, using the most popular G11 and G12 tariffs, approved by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office. All households have their electricity rates frozen up to 2 000 kWh, without any additional formalities.

Who is subsidising our bills?

Reduced electricity bills are valid until the end of this year. An average household in Poland will pay less than half of the real market price for electricity this year, resulting from the current tariffs approved by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office. The remainder of Poles' bills - or almost 60 per cent of the real price - is financed by the government and the main energy producers - including PGE, Tauron, Enea and Energa - who are jointly pooling funds for this purpose in a special fund.

Applications for higher limits only until the end of June

If there is a person with a disability in the household, then the limit for energy consumption at a preferential price is 2 600 kWh. For farmers and Large Family Card holders, this limit is 3 000 kWh. And it is in these two situations that it is necessary to submit an appropriate declaration to the energy seller in order to increase the consumption limit and still benefit from reduced prices. All retailers make such applications available on their websites. However, you should hurry, as the deadline for submitting such applications is 30 June, which is just a few weeks away.

What if the limits are exceeded?

Households whose annual electricity consumption exceeds their limit will benefit from another solution introduced in the Solidarity Shield. Above the limits, a maximum price mechanism applies, meaning that all households exceeding the limits will pay no more than 69 cents per kWh.

Bonus for the thrifty

The Government's Solidarity Shield further rewards those consumers who reduce their energy consumption. Households that, between 1 October 2022 and 31 December 2023. - i.e. for 14 months - will reduce their electricity consumption by at least 10 per cent, will receive an additional discount. This will be a 10 per cent reduction on the entire annual electricity bill, which will be billed in 2024.