January electricity prices in Poland were among the highest in Europe, according to an analysis by Bank Pekao SA. This is one of the key factors shaping operating conditions for industry—especially in sectors with heavy power consumption. “In the case of energy-intensive companies, a lot depends on domestic regulation. There is room to help them,” stresses Wanda Buk, an adviser to the President of Poland, referring to a proposed presidential bill.
“Energy-intensive entrepreneurs in Poland pay the highest electricity bills in the European Union. In other words, those who build our economy and our GDP pay the most—steel, cement, glass. All of these entities are in a very difficult situation, and we must remember that they don’t compete locally, but internationally. That’s why there is an enormous, urgent need to support them,” Wanda Buk told Newseria.
Economists at Bank Pekao SA estimate that Poland’s January electricity price (EUR 143/MWh) was among the highest in Europe. Lower levels were recorded, among others, in Germany (around EUR 110/MWh) and in Spain (around EUR 72/MWh). Analysts point out that these price differences are linked, among other factors, to the structure of power generation: renewables accounted for roughly 21% in Poland, compared with 51% in Germany and 57% in Spain.
The final energy bill is also shaped by fiscal burdens. In Poland, the VAT rate on electricity for businesses is 23%.
“People often say that not much can be done [about energy prices], because EU regulations apply. But in the case of energy-intensive businesses, a great deal depends on our national rules—how we allocate taxes, what VAT they pay—and I remind you that Poland has the highest VAT on electricity in the entire European Union—or what support schemes are in place,” the presidential adviser lists.
She emphasizes that this group of customers is also affected by a quality fee linked to consumption levels, intended to cover the cost of maintaining appropriate supply standards and grid stability.
“Because energy-intensive customers use a lot of electricity, they pay a great deal to ensure the grid is of sufficient quality. They contribute the most, even though they are entities with very stable consumption—usually they draw roughly the same amount, without peaks that would affect the grid and its quality,” Wanda Buk notes. “This can be changed domestically. We don’t need any additional green lights from the European Commission to do it.”
Reducing electricity bills—both for companies and for individual consumers—is the goal of the presidential proposal titled “Cheap Electricity -33%.” Presented in November by Karol Nawrocki, the draft bill assumes a lasting reform of the fee system, the elimination of some charges, and simpler electricity billing. According to calculations by the President’s Chancellery, an average annual household bill at consumption of about 2 MWh is currently around PLN 2,600, and the proposed changes could reduce this amount by roughly PLN 800.
“The president’s bill would change quite a lot if it were adopted, but for three months it has been sitting in what’s called the ‘parliamentary freezer.’ We hope it will come out soon—especially given that just last week recommendations for member states leaked from the European Commission, describing how electricity bills can be lowered and how important this is for the European Union’s further development. To a large extent, they reflect the proposals in the presidential draft from November 2025. So if legislative work begins, it may turn out that we become trendsetters in implementing the European Commission’s recommendations,” the presidential adviser assesses.
The draft presidential bill proposes changes in how parts of electricity costs are set—costs that do not stem directly from the generation price itself, but are related to the activities of distribution system operators, support schemes, and tax burdens.
“The bill proposes lowering electricity prices for households and businesses based on four pillars. First, reducing excessive profits of distribution companies. In Poland, these can reach as much as a 13% return on invested capital, while the EU average is 4–5%. Second, shifting so-called non-energy charges—various support schemes—onto the state budget, with the source of funding being ETS revenues. The next element is phasing out old support systems. This is a smaller item—green certificates—but we should address it. They still add to our bills. It’s about PLN 400 million a year that simply flows to those benefiting from legacy support schemes. The fourth pillar is lowering VAT,” Wanda Buk said during the EEC Trends 2026 debate.
