Amper: Growth in Czech electricity consumption slowed in the third quarter

Electricity consumption in Czechia has been rising steadily since the fourth quarter of 2024, but the trend slowed from July to September this year. Year on year, it rose by two percent after adjustment for the effects of weather. Since consumption growth has so far mirrored economic growth, we may now be seeing a slight decline in the economy, according to a press release by Jan Palaščák, founder of the Amper Group and an energy expert.

Over that period, consumption grew at almost the same rate throughout, with the exception of the first quarter of last year. "Consumption growth figures almost exactly matched GDP growth. If that was also true in the latest quarter, it can be said that the war in Iran, adverse weather (drought and heatwaves) and the resulting significantly higher electricity prices we have seen in recent months may also be starting to affect the performance of the Czech economy," Palaščák said. Electricity consumption in the latest quarter was five percent lower than before the energy crisis, compared with the average for 2017 to 2021.

Electricity prices in the third quarter this year were 52 percent higher year on year and a quarter higher than in the second quarter. This was due both to the adverse geopolitical situation related to the conflict in Iran and to extremely hot, dry weather. Electricity consumption by combined-cycle power plants also increased, driving up gas consumption; overall, weather-adjusted gas consumption rose by 6.6 percent year on year. By contrast, consumption was 17 percent lower than in 2017 to 2021. Savings are no longer increasing, but merely fluctuating.

The number of hours when the spot price rose above 200 euros (4890 Kč) per MWh increased dramatically in the third quarter. "There were five times as many such hours year on year. This means greater pressure to choose when to consume electricity or, conversely, when to generate it deliberately. It is becoming clear that demand for flexibility and greater use of battery systems will increase in the coming years," Palaščák said.

Low hydropower generation also contributed to high spot electricity prices. It fell by almost 40 percent compared with the 2016 to 2025 average, with the shortfall having a particularly negative impact during evening peaks. In September, output fell by more than half.

Overall, however, renewables—solar, wind and hydropower—generated six percent more energy year on year in the third quarter, with solar power plants accounting for four-fifths of output. They covered 12 percent of Czechia's electricity consumption.

The Amper Group bases its calculations and analyses on publicly available data. It obtains electricity consumption data from ČEPS and current gas data from NET4GAS. It also works with data from the Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ).