Czech Energy Act – third reading

The lengthy legislative process for the amendment to the Energy Act is still not over. On 1 April 2015, the amendment was discussed at third reading in the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. This was the first discussion at third reading, which was interrupted after speeches by two MPs. MPs from the Dawn Movement played a significant role in this, making full use of their right to speak in the Chamber. For example, in just under half an hour, thanks to MP Karel Fiedler, we were able to learn exactly what the Ekonom magazine had published about the Energy Act amendment.

If it was not sufficiently clear from MP Fiedler’s speech that the Dawn Movement MPs were merely trying to obstruct proceedings, the speech by MP Adam made everything clear. He decided to familiarise MPs with all the amendments to the Energy Act amendment and added his own commentary. In conclusion, another MP from the Dawn Movement called a two-hour break for a party meeting.

“The actions of the Dawn Movement resemble obstruction more than a genuine interest in debating the form of the amendment to the Energy Act or the Act on Supported Energy Sources. The amendments could undoubtedly be more thoroughly developed, but the debate on their form has been going on for ten months, and following the intervention of the Legislative Council of the Government (LRV) in autumn last year, the legislative changes can be viewed as acceptable. It was the LRV that removed a number of controversial points from the proposal, which had found their way into the amendment either from the Ministry of Industry and Trade or the Energy Regulatory Office,”
Martin Sedlák, Alliance for Energy Self-Sufficiency

Maximum amount of electricity

The introduction of a maximum amount of electricity eligible for support will return to the table. This provision was removed during consideration by the Legislative Council of the Government as retroactive. MP Petr Adam will nevertheless try to propose and push it through again. However, his chances of success are minimal.

MPs will return to the amendment on 10 April, when it is scheduled as the third item for consideration at the 26th session.

The full verbatim transcript of the discussion of the Energy Act amendment in the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic can be found here.