Czech Opatovice power plant to end heating season as heat consumption rises by a quarter

Elektrárny Opatovice and EOP Distribuce will gradually end the heating season from Friday. It was colder than the previous one, and total heat consumption rose by almost a quarter. The company said this in a press release. More than 63.000 households and institutions in Hradec Králové, Pardubice, Chrudim and surrounding municipalities receive heat from the company.

"The district heating system will smoothly switch to summer operating mode. This is due to stable weather and a forecast that no longer anticipates a return to colder days," the company's spokesperson Hana Počtová said.

The previous heating season was the warmest in more than 60 years. According to statistics from the Czech District Heating Association, conditions for heating were met on 245 cold days this heating season. That was 46 days more than in the previous season.

Heat consumption rose by almost a quarter. January was the only month that was warmer than last year. "After last year's exceptionally warm weather, this winter brought us closer to the long-term norm again. In terms of degree days, it was the third-coldest heating season in the past ten years," said EOP Distribuce director Karel Čipera.

Opatovice Power Plant was completed in 1960. Elektrárny Opatovice is continuing preparations for a transition to low-emission operations. By 2030, it plans to switch from lignite to natural gas.

EOP companies provide district heating to more than 63.000 households and a range of public and industrial customers in Hradec Králové, Pardubice, Chrudim and the surrounding area.