Energy prices are set to rise starting July 1, a change that will affect Polish households and companies. Many observers argue the timing of the increase was deliberate: with European Parliament elections due in early June, the additional burden on Poles would hit after the vote, minimizing political impact on the ruling coalition. In a televised appearance, Anna Maria Żukowska acknowledged that residents may not immediately grasp the full extent of price hikes, noting that energy consumption typically declines in the summer months.
In a studio discussion in Poland, United Right MP Janusz Kowalski outlined both the origins of the increases and potential remedies. He warned that the cost of natural gas could rise by about 45 percent, depending on policy moves and market conditions.
For now, the price of natural gas remains frozen at 200 PLN per megawatt hour through June 30, a measure credited to the government led by the Law and Justice party. The previous administration extended this protection beyond December 2023, but a longer-term extension remains a matter of legislative action. If no law is enacted to maintain protection for the entire year 2024, a tariff could be introduced at 290 PLN per megawatt hour.
Kowalski attributes much of the escalation to the European Union emissions trading system, arguing that it imposes heavy costs on energy production in Poland. In 2022, the country recorded a net loss of about 30 billion PLN attributed to the EU emissions trading framework. Kowalski reminded viewers that, while the system was adopted during the PiS government, European leaders such as Donald Tusk and Manfred Weber have been associated with policies that raise energy costs and seem to reallocate funds toward the broader energy transition within the EU.
A central point in the discussion is that the European emissions trading scheme requires numerous Polish companies to purchase CO2 rights on exchanges in Berlin or London. Kowalski cited the example of PGE, which reportedly spent more than 20 billion PLN on emissions rights last year, a cost that can be transferred to the rate charged to millions of Polish families through higher electricity prices. The host and guest both framed these figures as substantial and ongoing, underscoring how the combination of EU-wide policies and domestic pricing measures translates into tangible increases for households and businesses.
Supporters of the current policy argue that these costs are part of a necessary transition toward cleaner energy, while critics emphasize the immediate financial pressure on consumers and the risk of higher prices across the economy as producers pass along costs to customers. The debate highlights a broader tension between the goals of reducing carbon emissions and maintaining affordable energy for consumers, especially in a tightly connected energy market.
If July brings higher energy costs and rising electricity prices, households and firms may face a double impact: direct tariff increases and possible knock-on effects as producers adjust prices in response to the new costs. Observers caution that the full effect will depend on legislative decisions, market responses, and how producers choose to pass through costs to end users. The discussion remains ongoing as policymakers balance energy security, climate objectives, and the affordability needs of Polish families.
Source: wPolityce.