ČEZ nationalisation backed by majority, people expect greater security and stability

Nearly three-fifths of Czechs support strengthening state control over energy company ČEZ. This follows from a survey by the Ipsos agency. People believe it would strengthen the country's self-sufficiency in electricity generation. According to its policy statement, the governing coalition of ANO, SPD and the Motorists wants to nationalise ČEZ, i.e. buy out the roughly 30% stake in the company held by minority shareholders. The state already owns the remaining approximately 70% of ČEZ shares. ČEZ is the largest electricity producer in the Czech Republic.

Some 58% of respondents said the state should gain greater control over ČEZ. The opposite view is held by 27% of people, while 15% are undecided. The largest share of supporters of this step – 59% – cited strengthening the Czech Republic's self-sufficiency in electricity production as an argument for greater control. Nearly half of supporters also believe that it would increase the state's energy security and control over the country's critical infrastructure.

"Customers have experienced the energy crisis and rising electricity and gas prices in recent years. They are therefore more cautious and follow energy issues more closely than before. It is only logical that they want price stability and prefer self-sufficiency with greater state involvement – in this case, control over ČEZ," said Ipsos analyst Michal Straka.

Czechs are divided on the impact of ČEZ's nationalisation on energy prices. In total, 39% of people believe it would lead to cheaper energy. According to 40% of people, prices would not change, while 21% expect them to rise. Cheaper energy is expected primarily by supporters of increasing state control over ČEZ.

The shares of supporters of a predominance of either nuclear energy or renewable sources in electricity generation are evenly balanced. In total, 37% of survey participants would prefer an energy mix in which nuclear energy has the largest share, renewables a smaller share and fossil fuels the smallest share. A total of 35% would favour a mix with the largest share of generation from renewable sources, a smaller share from nuclear power plants and the smallest share from fossil fuels. Only 5% of people in total support mixes in which fossil fuels have the largest share. One-tenth would choose a mix dominated by nuclear energy and fossil fuels, with a minimal share of renewables.

"The research reveals an interesting link between preferred energy sources and views on the role of the state. The data clearly show that supporters of nuclear energy in particular most often call for both energy self-sufficiency and greater state control over key infrastructure," Straka said.

According to the survey, three-quarters of Czechs support building new nuclear capacity and extending the operation of existing nuclear power plants.

The Ipsos agency conducted the survey from 30 June to 3 July. It involved 1,029 Czech residents aged between 18 and 65.