Czech energy regulator: Electricity and gas consumption rose in the first half, most among households

Electricity consumption in Czechia rose by 2.6 percent year on year in the first half, while natural gas consumption increased by 13.2 percent. Households recorded the largest increase in consumption of both commodities. The Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ) said this in a press release today. According to ERÚ chairman Jan Šefránek, the increase was driven both by energy prices, which have fallen since the crisis, and by lower temperatures year on year, which have a significant impact especially on gas consumption. The office also reported year-on-year growth in electricity generation and an increase in natural gas transit.

"The impact of temperature is evident for both commodities. While actual gas consumption rose by 13.2 percent, consumption adjusted for temperature effects increased by 4.3 percent. The greater need for heating also affected electricity use, especially in households. Their consumption rose by 9.3 percent year on year, significantly more than in other customer categories," Šefránek said.

Czechs increased their electricity consumption to 30.1 terawatt-hours (TWh) in the first half of this year; consumption among households rose by 9.3 percent and among businesses by 2.7 percent. Gas consumption climbed to 43.3 TWh. ERÚ recorded an increase in consumption across all customer categories, but the largest rises were among households and small customers, at around 15 percent in both cases.

Electricity generation was also higher year on year, reaching 36.3 TWh in the first half, 7.5 percent more than in the first half of last year. Generation at combined-cycle gas-fired power plants rose by around half, at photovoltaic plants by about a quarter, at steam power plants by a tenth, at nuclear plants by six percent, and at gas-fired and combustion power plants by 3.5 percent. By contrast, generation at hydropower plants fell by 37 percent, at wind farms by around 11 percent, and at pumped-storage plants by four percent. Installed electrical capacity grew most at gas-fired and combustion power plants and at photovoltaic plants, by around 17 percent in both cases.

"Natural gas transit also increased year on year. Imports to the Czech Republic rose by 25.3 percent and exports by as much as 174.7 percent. Time will tell whether this will remain a trend in the coming period. In any case, under the newly established regulatory rules, revenue from gas transit benefits Czech customers," the ERÚ chief added.

Imported gas came through Germany, while gas was exported to Poland and Slovakia.

In the first half, 4.7 percent more natural gas was withdrawn from storage than a year earlier, and more gas was also injected into storage, up 35.4 percent. At the end of June, storage facilities held two billion cubic metres of gas, equivalent to 58.8 percent of total working gas capacity, the office said.