Heating in Czech Příbram to rise by nine percent, households to pay CZK 2,650 more a year

People in Příbram will pay more for heating next year. Energo Příbram will raise the average price of heat year-on-year by around nine percent to CZK 1,219 per gigajoule (GJ), including VAT. The price increase is due to higher costs and year-on-year inflation, Petra Losertová from the company's media representation told the Czech News Agency (ČTK). The annual heating bill for a three-room flat with average consumption of 25 GJ will thus rise by around CZK 2,650 to approximately CZK 30,475.

End consumers in Příbram, which has a population of 32,000, currently pay an average of CZK 1,113 per GJ for heat, including tax. The price increase is planned from 1 January, averaging nine percent depending on the customer's specific tariff. "This is an increase of CZK 106, reflecting year-on-year inflation, rising fuel prices and higher costs for operating and maintaining the district heating system," said Pavel Maďar, customer portfolio manager for Bohemia.

Energo Příbram is the main supplier of heat and hot water to Příbram residents. It uses two biomass boilers with a total capacity of 92 megawatts thermal (MWt) and a backup gas boiler with a capacity of almost 11 MWt to produce energy. The company also owns Příbram's district heating system, comprising more than 17 kilometres of hot-water networks and two kilometres of steam networks. This year, Veolia Energie ČR acquired a majority stake in Energo Příbram from investment group Natland.

People in Příbram will also pay more for water next year. The price of water supply and wastewater services will rise by CZK 2.70 from January to CZK 112.90 per cubic metre, an increase of 2.45 percent. Prices for other services should remain unchanged, according to the city administration. "We are not planning to increase any fees," said Mayor Jan Konvalinka (ANO).