Poles indicate that electricity prices are not the biggest challenge to the household budget. As the results of a survey conducted by YOTTA on behalf of the PKEE show, only 11% respondents considered the price of electricity to be an issue.
Although the increase in electricity prices and generation costs is one of the problems faced by both the Polish government and energy companies, the results of a public opinion poll conducted by the YOTTA research agency show that these difficulties are not reflected in consumer sentiment. The researchers asked Poles about the products and services whose prices they think have risen the most this year. Almost half of the respondents pointed to groceries (45%), 16% to the cost of home and flat heating charges, and only 11% found the increase in electricity prices problematic.
Such good survey results are the result of measures introduced by the government to protect citizens from electricity price increases. One of these is the Solidarity Shield, through which electricity prices have been frozen. Now a new version of the Solidarity Shield law, which includes an increase in electricity consumption limits, was signed by the President this week.
As a reminder - legislation had already been passed in 2022 to freeze electricity prices for 2023 at the previous year's rates up to certain limits. These amounted to: up to 2,000 kWh for households, up to 2,600 kWh for households with people with disabilities and up to 3,000 kWh for households with a Large Family Card and senior citizens who have reared at least three children, as well as for farms.
The new limits under the law just signed have been increased. They range from 3,000 to 4,000 kWh, depending on the type of household. Thanks to them, all households will pay up to PLN 3,000 less in electricity bills. In turn, households with people with disabilities will save up to 3600 PLN, while farmers and families with the Large Family Card can keep up to 4000 PLN in their budget.
Under the provisions of the Solidarity Shield, the difference between the generation price and the final price is covered by the Price Difference Payment Fund. It is financed by the power generators, the state budget and, according to the amended law, the coal companies.
The Solidarity Shield is a uniquely effective solution to protect energy consumers from the effects of rising electricity prices - says Maciej Maciejowski of the Polish Electricity Committee. This is, of course, an ad hoc measure. Thanks to the Shield, this year's electricity bills will not pose an additional challenge for Poles. In order to permanently halt price increases, we are investing in the energy transition: in zero- and low-carbon energy sources, in energy storage, as well as in transmission and distribution lines - he adds.
According to an EY analysis commissioned by PKEE, the energy transition in Poland will cost at least PLN 600 billion by 2030. It is worth emphasising that the energy transition and maintaining electricity prices are the key elements that Poles care about in terms of electricity prices. As shown by the results of the survey already described above, almost one in three respondents (30%), when asked what they thought was key in terms of electricity prices, indicated maintaining them at last year's levels, while 27% respondents indicated as a key value intensifying the energy transition process and thus stabilising energy prices in the future through increased production from renewable sources.
Details of the increased energy price freeze limits are available at www.liczysieenergia.pl - the Polish Electricity Committee's education campaign page.