Electricity prices for households in Poland rose by 12.9 % between September 2021 and January 2023, while spending on their protection amounted to around 2 % of GDP, according to a report by the Energy Market Agency. Poland held back energy price increases more than Germany and France and spent less.

In the report “War on energy prices – summary of shielding measures on markets in Poland and Europe”, experts from the Energy Market Agency (ARE), commissioned by the Polish Electricity Committee, analysed the shielding measures taken by European states in response to the energy crisis – from September 2021 until January 2023. According to the data presented in the study, European states allocated €758 billion to protect energy consumers from the effects of the energy crisis caused by Russia’s policies and its aggression against Ukraine.

The authors of the report noted that despite the “unprecedented” expenditure, energy prices in some countries have risen “even by more than 100 %”.

Poland has allocated “relatively small funds – the equivalent of €12.4 billion”. According to experts, however, it has managed to hold back energy price increases more than in other countries. As a result, energy prices for end users in Poland are still among the lowest in Europe.

They pointed out that during this period, 27 out of 29 countries analysed applied reductions in VAT or energy taxes and cash transfers for vulnerable consumers.

Poland achieved one of the highest cost-effectiveness of the shielding solutions introduced. The increase in electricity prices for households in our country amounted to only 12.9 per cent, while expenditure on protecting individual consumers amounted to only around two per cent of GDP, reported the Vice-President of the Energy Market Agency, Andrzej Bondyra.

Adrian Andrzejewski