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A week ago, the Ministry of Climate and Environment presented a draft law freezing energy prices and introducing energy vouchers for some households. The ministry indicated that the cost of these solutions will amount to PLN 6.3 billion.
In the course of inter-ministerial consultations The Ministry of Finance indicated that these were incorrect calculations.
“The project also provides for costs that are not included in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), amounting to approximately PLN 1.8 billion. They concern increasing expenditure on the so-called electricity act by PLN 1.03 billion and higher expenditure by PLN 0.8 billion PLN in expenses for compensation for energy companies referred to in the so-called Electricity Act the project costs in 2024-25 are not PLN 6.3 billion, as shown in the RIA, but PLN 8.1 billion“, the Ministry of Finance indicated in comment no. 2.
According to the responses of officials responsible for climate and environment dated April 24, the original estimates were actually lower by PLN 1.8 billion. “As far as comment no. 2 is concerned, it has been taken into account by making corrections to the Regulatory Impact Assessment,” the ministry said.
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Freezing energy prices and energy vouchers
The draft law prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Environment assumes freezing energy prices in the second half of 2023 at the maximum level of PLN 500.
In addition, approximately 3.5 million families will be entitled to receive an energy voucher ranging from PLN 300 to PLN 1.2 thousand. zloty depending on the number of people in the household and the heating source.
By design, a voucher with value PLN 300 will be available to single-person households. For households of 2 or 3 people, the voucher will be PLN 400, for 4 or 5-person households – PLN 500, and for households of six or more people – PLN 600. In the case of households that use electricity as their main heating source, the value of the voucher will be higher – from PLN 600 to PLN 1.2 thousand. zloty.
The energy voucher is intended to be a benefit for households that do not exceed a certain income limit. In the case of a single-person household, the limit is PLN 2.5 thousand. PLN per person, and for multi-person households – 1.7 thousand. PLN per person. After exceeding these limits, the energy voucher will still be awarded, but its value will be reduced by the amount exceeded.
