Czech energy regulator imposed record fines on suppliers for anti-consumer practices last year

The Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ) last year imposed fines totalling CZK 18.5 million on energy suppliers for practices that harm consumers. This is a record amount in the authority’s more than 20-year history, with the volume of fines more than doubling over the past two years. Last year’s sanctions also included the highest individual fine to date, CZK 6 million, imposed on Elgas Energy. The number of cases involving so-called energy scammers is also rising. ERÚ announced this today.

In total, the authority last year imposed a record CZK 28.4 million in penalties for all energy-sector offences, with anti-consumer practices accounting for the main share.

Last year’s volume of sanctions thus surpassed the previous record again after one year, which had stood at CZK 14.3 million in 2024. The authority most frequently penalised companies for failing to issue bills, failing to handle complaints, failing to return overpayments, preventing customers from switching to another supplier, or unlawfully moving customers onto so-called spot products.

"The level of fines for anti-consumer conduct is increasing year on year. Consumer protection is one of our priority areas, which we will continue to focus on in the future in order to rid the market of undesirable practices. Prevention, including consumer awareness, is also essential so that we can prevent problems," said ERÚ Chairman Jan Šefránek.

Fines for conduct against consumers therefore account for an ever-increasing share of total sanctions, making up almost two-thirds of the CZK 28.4 million in final fines imposed last year for all offences committed in the energy sector. At the same time, the number of submissions seeking the launch of inspections is also rising, with ERÚ receiving more than 300 last year.

"It is not just about fines. We also revoked the licence of Elgas Energy, which received the highest individual sanction of CZK 6 million from us. It therefore had to leave the energy market entirely," said ERÚ Board member Markéta Zemanová.

Elgas Energy last year received a record fine for a single supplier over unfair commercial practices. According to the authority, the company committed dozens of offences against consumers, including misleading customers and demanding absurdly high advance payments.

According to Zemanová, the authority also recorded an increase in the activities of so-called energy scammers among intermediaries. "Every fourth consumer inspection launched last year focused specifically on the conduct of intermediaries. Often without registration and under false pretences, they present people with contracts or powers of attorney to sign. They do not even hesitate to pose as namesakes or distant relatives of their victims," Zemanová said.