Polish Parliament Moves to Extend Frozen Energy Prices for Households
Warsaw, Poland – The Polish Sejm (lower house of Parliament) has voted in favor of extending the freeze on electricity prices for households until the end of 2025. The move, approved Friday with only minor editorial and legislative amendments by the Sejm Commission of Climate, Energy and State Assets, aims to provide continued relief from soaring energy costs for vulnerable consumers.
The legislation maintains the current rate of PLN 500 per MWh (net) for electricity, a measure initially included in a previous bill – often referred to as the “windmill act” – which was vetoed by president Karol Nawrocki in August.
heating Vouchers to Supplement Price Freeze
Alongside the price freeze extension, the bill introduces a heating voucher program designed to provide direct financial assistance to households struggling with energy bills.Eligibility for the voucher is based on income:
* Single-person households: Monthly income must be at or below PLN 3,272.69.
* Multi-person households: Monthly income per person must be at or below PLN 2,454.52.
The program operates on a sliding scale, meaning households exceeding the income thresholds will still receive a voucher, albeit a reduced amount. The minimum voucher value is set at PLN 20.
Vouchers will be distributed in two phases:
* Phase 1: July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
* Phase 2: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026.Subsidies will be increased during this second phase to PLN 1,000, PLN 2,000, and PLN 3,500, depending on household needs and prevailing energy prices.
The government estimates the total cost of the heating voucher program through the end of 2026 will be PLN 889.4 million.
Political Friction Surrounds the Bill
The passage of this bill comes amidst political tension.President Nawrocki previously vetoed similar legislation, and his office
