Freezing weather boosts Czech energy consumption, gas demand up a quarter year on year

Freezing weather in recent days has significantly increased energy consumption in Czechia. Natural gas demand rose by almost a quarter compared with the same period last year, while consumption is up by nearly half compared with the turn of the year two years ago. Electricity demand also increased slightly. This follows from information provided to ČTK by distribution system operators. According to meteorologists, freezing conditions will continue in the coming days.

"Compared with the peak in the same period last year, current consumption is 23 percent higher. Compared with the turn of the year two years ago, when the weather was significantly warmer, the current daily peak is even 49 percent higher than the figures at that time," GasNet spokesman Aleš Gregorovič told ČTK.

According to him, the most gas was consumed on Monday.

Electricity distribution system operators are also reporting higher consumption, although the increase is more modest. "Compared with the same period in the previous week, electricity consumption is up by as much as 30 percent. However, this is not due to the freezing weather, but because the previous week was entirely atypical, falling between the holidays. Many people were off work, and a number of businesses were also closed or operating at reduced capacity. In reality, the current freezing weather is raising consumption by only a few percent," said ČEZ spokesman Ladislav Kříž.