Havlíček wants to use EU funds for investments in energy networks
Prague – Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (ANO) wants to make greater use of money from European funds for investments in the development and strengthening of domestic energy networks, especially from the Modernisation Fund and the EU defence programme SAFE. According to him, this would allow the Czech Republic to draw tens to hundreds of billions of crowns. He wants to limit the impact of investments on the level of the regulated component of energy prices. Havlíček said this in an interview with ČTK.
The final energy prices paid by customers consist of a commercial and a regulated component. The commercial part is set by suppliers, while the regulated part is set by the state through the Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ). The regulated part of energy prices mainly includes the fee for transmission and distribution.
The government of Prime Minister Andreje Babiše (ANO) decided in December that the state will take over all financing of supported energy sources (POZE) next year, including renewable and secondary energy sources. The state budget for 2026 will newly be burdened with another roughly CZK 17 billion, so overall the state will pay more than CZK 41 billion in fees. Until now, the financing of POZE has been divided between the state and consumers. The aim of the change was to reduce regulated electricity prices, which for this year have thus fallen year-on-year by 15 percent for households.
“We will of course continue,” said Havlíček. According to him, shifting POZE fees entirely to the state was the fastest possible measure to reduce energy prices. Further steps will, in his view, require more time. The minister wants to focus on other fees that are linked to the regulated energy price. In the coming years, the growing need for investments in the development and maintenance of energy networks should be increasingly reflected in it. “There are more solutions, but they are not short-term,” he said.
Havlíček therefore wants to make greater use of European programmes for investments. He wants to draw money mainly from the Modernisation Fund and the Safe programme, which the EU has earmarked to strengthen investments in European defence capabilities. According to the minister, investments in the transmission and distribution system are crucial for the resilience and security of the state. According to Havlíček, money from European funds is intended to limit the impact of large investments on the regulated part of energy prices. Without further steps, they would increase significantly in the coming years, the minister said. He rejected the idea that the government is planning to reduce VAT on energy. “In the long term this is not a solution, and moreover it will not help companies,” Havlíček said. (8 January)
