Tariffs for the supply of electricity are constantly growing, and additionally due to RES, new items have been introduced in the accounts. The costs were increased by power and RES charges (concerning renewable energy sources). Changes also occurred in the case of cogeneration and quality fees.
What is the current situation on the energy market? Will we pay more for electricity? Who is the cheapest electricity supplier? How can increases in electricity prices be avoided?
Electricity prices have been rising continuously for several years. There are two main reasons for the increase in electricity prices. One of the reasons is that the European Union is increasing the cost of allocating allowances for power plants as part of the fight against increasing environmental pollution – power plants burning raw materials contribute significantly to CO2 emissions. Another reason for the increase in electricity costs is the need to import coal from abroad, as domestic deposits are gradually depleted and obtaining raw materials from them ceases to be profitable.
What fees are included in the electricity price?
Electricity costs borne by each consumer include:
- payment for active energy – it is given in kWh, determines the price of electricity for 1 kilowatt hour,
- trade fee – it is still charged by some suppliers, although it is usually abandoned – the trade fee is the price of the service itself, customer service or issuing documents, including invoices,
- transitional fee – it is a premium for the termination of previous contracts with power plants – usually oscillates around PLN 1 per month,
- subscription fee – it is transferred to the employee who reads and checks the meter – the shorter the billing period, the lower the subscription fee;
- network fee – it includes a fixed component that covers the development and operating costs of the network, and a variable component – depending on the amount of energy consumed by the consumer, and covering the costs of transport and energy purchase by the distributor.
Electricity increase – what fees have been introduced?
At the beginning of January 2021, two new items were introduced in the electricity bills:
- RES fee – its purpose is to support the construction and operation of renewable energy sources, as well as agricultural biogas; this fee was included in the bill, but the recipient did not bear any costs, currently it amounts to PLN 20 / MWh – it is estimated that due to the RES fee, expenditure on electricity of a medium-sized household will increase by an average of PLN 10 per year;
- power fee – it is a premium for the modernization of the power plant, as well as security of electricity supply – thanks to it, it is to be possible to have trouble-free and constant electricity supply, the costs are calculated according to the electricity consumption in a given farm: with a consumption of less than 500 kWh it will be 2.30 gross, with in larger companies, where more than 2,800 kWh are consumed, it will be as much as PLN 12.87 gross.
Increase in electricity – other changes in fees
In 2021, the fees already paid by electricity consumers changed. She has changed:
- cogeneration fee – the previously applicable rate of cogeneration fee has been reduced to PLN 0;
- quality fee – it is determined by Polskie Sieci Energetyczne and its amount depends strictly on the amount of electricity consumed, but it is not dependent on electricity suppliers, therefore it is unchanged in various offers.
How do I find the cheapest electricity provider?
In order to be able to assess who is the cheapest electricity supplier, it is necessary to pay attention to a few most important aspects. First of all, it is worth looking at the proposed active energy fee, which may differ in the available offers. The duration of the contract, the method of payment calculation, as well as the conditions and possible costs of termination are also important.
It is worth using price comparison websites or rankings of energy suppliers available on the Internet to find the most advantageous offer. It is also worth remembering that the current supplier can be changed, it is enough to terminate the contract and inform the Distribution System Operator about it (using the form on the website), later after paying the last electricity payments, you can sign a new contract.
An increase in electricity – how to avoid it?
To protect yourself against increases in electricity, you can decide to sign a contract with a fixed price guarantee. As a result, all fees (except for distribution costs, excise duty and VAT specified in the contract) remain unchanged throughout the duration, even if there is an increase in electricity – most often these are long-term contracts. You can also choose to use renewable energy sources.
The ideal solution for home owners is to install photovoltaics that convert solar energy into electricity, which allows you to become independent from energy suppliers.. Some also decide to modernize the building, thanks to which the façade transmits less energy and the heat is better kept inside the rooms, thanks to which there is no need for constant heating.
The increase in electricity applies not only to households but also to companies. It is estimated that the bill and the fees included in it will continue to grow due to rising distribution costs and the emergence of additional fees. In 2021, the cost of electricity increased by an average of 12%. So far, there have been no attempts to introduce compensation due to the increase in electricity prices. Therefore, in some cases, you can consider thermomodernization or installation of photovoltaic panels, for which funding is allocated.
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