Poland is experiencing surging interest in solar power, heat pumps and home energy storage — a trend driven by the energy transition and soaring electricity prices. But as investment accelerates, so does the number of consumer complaints about misleading and exploitative practices. UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny has announced new enforcement actions against companies that — instead of delivering real savings — relied on legal loopholes, misleading marketing and aggressive telemarketing.
Proceedings have been opened against four companies: EPG (Energia Plus Gaz), Revolt Energy, PEGK and Centrum Dotacji OZE. Sunday Polska has already been fined more than PLN 1 million.
A booming renewables market — and growing consumer risk
According to UOKiK, some companies take advantage of consumers’ limited knowledge of photovoltaics, heat pumps and subsidy programs — promising guaranteed savings and express installation. In reality, contracts contained asymmetric clauses shifting all risk to the customer, while marketing materials — for example letters styled like government notices — falsely implied official public support.
“WE WILL NOT ACCEPT SITUATIONS WHERE BUSINESSES EXPLOIT CONSUMERS’ LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND ABUSE THEIR TRUST. THE GREEN TRANSITION IS AN OPPORTUNITY — BUT ONLY IF THE MARKET OPERATES FAIRLY,”
— emphasizes UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny.
Unfair contract terms: heavy penalties, zero responsibility for firms
EPG and Revolt Energy used contract clauses allowing them to charge penalties of up to 30% of the installation’s value if the customer withdrew after 14 days or failed to submit documents on time. Meanwhile, these firms could withdraw from the contract without consequences — e.g. citing “technical constraints” — despite being responsible for pre-contract feasibility checks.
Revolt Energy went even further: it reserved the right to retain the entire deposit, delay installation indefinitely due to “weather” or “supply shortages”, and completely excluded responsibility for actual energy performance. Customers took the risk — companies took the profit.
Marketing disguised as official government communication
PEGK distributed leaflets and notices deliberately styled to look like local government correspondence — with no clear disclosure that they were commercial advertisements. Messages warned of electricity price spikes “up to 300%” and urged “urgent contact”.
Centrum Dotacji OZE (formerly Eko Centrum) conducted illegal cold-calling, contacting consumers without consent and falsely introducing itself as an “EU grants department”. The tactic: create a sense of authority + apply time pressure = classic high-risk sales trap.
Sunday Polska fined over PLN 1 million
The most severe action targeted Sunday Polska, accused of practices including:
- indefinite postponement of installation dates (“weather conditions”, with no final deadline)
- unilateral change of subcontractor without client approval
- additional installation costs despite prior technical inspections
- elimination of the right to withdraw from the contract without penalty
- defining “major defects” so narrowly that consumer complaints were almost impossible
Fine imposed: PLN 1,011,516. The decision is not yet final.
