Czechia met the EU target over winter, cutting peak electricity consumption by 6.5%

Czechia met the EU target of achieving at least 5% savings in electricity use during peak consumption periods over the past winter. Overall savings during the designated periods from last December to this March amounted to 6.5% compared with the average in previous years. Consumption fell in every month from December to March. Jan Hamrník, spokesperson for the Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ), told the Czech News Agency (ČTK).

The mandatory reduction in electricity consumption during parts of the day with the highest demand, adopted by the EU last year in an effort to minimise the use of expensive gas-fired generation, was in effect from last December until the end of this March. To meet the target, Czechia relied on a combination of voluntary savings, electricity conservation prompted by higher peak prices, an awareness campaign and other measures. The Energy Regulatory Office set the peak consumption periods, which varied from month to month.