State to relieve consumers next year, paying tens of billions for supported energy sources

The state will also take over all charges for supported energy sources (POZE) next year. Karel Havlíček (ANO), the Minister of Industry and Trade, said this after today’s budget meeting with Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO). This year, the state will pay around CZK 41 billion for them. According to Havlíček, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s (MPO) spending next year will primarily focus on investments in economic growth. Conversely, he wants to make savings on the operation of the ministry and its subordinate offices. He did not say whether he had agreed on an exact amount for the MPO’s 2027 budget with Schillerová.

The state took over all POZE financing this year, newly adding CZK 17 billion to the state budget burden. Overall, the state will spend roughly CZK 41 billion on POZE this year. In previous years, the payments were divided between the state and consumers. The measure aims to reduce regulated electricity prices for consumers, which fell by more than 15 percent for households this year.

"State payments for POZE will continue, and the state will continue to fully take them over. We expect this to be returned to us through economic growth, tax revenues and social security contributions," Havlíček said today.

According to him, he and Schillerová agreed that everything linked to economic growth would be accepted in the final version of next year’s budget. "We agreed that economic growth and energy prices are fundamental for us," Havlíček stressed.

According to him, there was also agreement at today’s meeting on spending on export policy and research and development.

Conversely, Havlíček wants to continue seeking savings at public offices. He intends to save on costs associated with operating the ministry and its subordinate offices, personnel costs, services and other expenditure. "We are cutting this hard and will continue to do so," Havlíček added.

Havlíček did not wish to specify the volume of spending he expects for his budget allocation. This year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is expected to manage expenditure of CZK 54.5 billion.