Electricity Prices in V4 Countries

According to the latest available data in the European Energy Monitor, pre-tax electricity prices are higher than the EU average in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, while households still enjoy relatively low prices. Cross-subsidization is a major competitiveness issue for the energy-intensive manufacturing, chemical industries and for a number of services. The Slovak industry pays the highest electricity bill in the EU.

There are ways to circumvent the problem. Electricity price shocks can be hedged, or even SMEs may form co-operations to avoid the (mis-)regulated market and buy cheaper wholesale electricity, often from import. Import barriers can be litigated. Corporations can lobby for policy change or challenge the national policy in the European Court.