Last November, Průmyslová keramika received a letter from its energy supplier, Amper Market, stating that the price for gas supplies would increase from the New Year. “Basically, we were faced with a done deal: Either you terminate the contract or you sign a contract with a new price that we offer you. I signed it because the price was still good at that time, “describes the company’s CEO Jakub Cvilínek.
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The company Průmyslová keramika produces refractory concrete mixtures, packing compounds and other materials used in industry, which it supplies worldwide. The gas it buys from Amper Market is crucial for the company, as it heats the furnaces and heats the halls.
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However, the cost of gas supplies has tripled since the signing of the new contract. “Now we have monthly invoices for 350 to 380 thousand crowns,” says Cvilínek.
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However, not all companies have agreed with the supplier. “The contract with Amper Market has been terminated. Bochemie has had another supplier for some time now, “said Eva Kijonková, media representative of the Bochemie chemist.
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Amper Market systematically enriches itself with its clients, to whom it repeatedly refuses to supply energy at agreed prices.
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To the price changes they first reported Economic newspaperAmper Market had to accede in view of the significant changes in the energy market, which is currently highly volatile.
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“We negotiated with customers and found a solution together so that we could ensure continued deliveries until the heating season began and the heating plants fully resumed their production. One of the changes in energy supply is that for a transitional period, ie the summer period, clients will be partly at spot prices, “says Miroslav Deneš, the company’s media representative.
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Spot tariffs, which reflect developments on the stock exchange, are currently more advantageous for traders themselves than for customers. As soon as the wholesale price of electricity or gas rises, the customer will feel it immediately. Especially in the last year, this method seems more expensive compared to regular contracts. The Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) also warns of these risks.
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“Spot products are now understandably advantageous for suppliers. They risk almost nothing for them and they have a certain margin. They can buy energy on the short-term market and all the risks of sharp price fluctuations are borne by consumers. “ points out Markéta Zemanová, Member of the ERO Council.
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Amper Market is the last company to supply both electricity and gas from the fallen empire of Bohemia Energy. Among its more than 4,000 consumption points are mainly companies, industrial enterprises, but also the public sphere such as municipalities, spas, kindergartens and schools.
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The company was bought in 2018 by the owner of the ending Bohemia Energy group, Jiří Písařík, from businessman Jan Palaščák. He also confirmed the information about the meeting of Amper Market SZ Business.
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“Amper Market is systematically enriching itself with its clients, to whom it repeatedly refuses to supply energy at agreed prices,” Palaščák said.
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According to Palaščák, Amper Market not only denies what is stated in the contract, but also resells the purchased energy on the stock exchange. “The advantageous purchase from producers who have not been transferred outside the company retains and sells this energy on the spot market,” says Palaščák.
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However, according to Deneš, Amper Market only sold surplus electricity from January to March in order to be able to buy and secure energy for its customers in the summer months. “All proceeds are therefore used to invest in the purchase of energy for the next period,” said Deneš.
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Amper Market’s approach is reminiscent of a screenplay written by Bohemia Energy last fall. She did not have enough electricity for her customers and did not have enough money for further purchases. And so she offered people spot prices instead of the ones they had in the contract. However, it did not save the situation and less than a million points of consumption then fell into the regime of last resort, where they had to pay several times more.
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A similar situation would mean significant additional costs for high-volume companies. Already, companies are concerned not only about rising energy prices, but also about uncertainty about gas supplies. “It simply came to our notice then. A lot of companies don’t have to manage it, “warns Cvilínek.
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However, changes in price lists also have a side effect. The manufacturer must also pass on higher costs to the prices of products for end customers. “If we do not reflect energy prices to the customer, there is no point in doing so. The market will go up and I already have to deal with the prices for 2023, “says the executive of Industrial Ceramics.
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