Before they decide to commit money to a given market, investors check various parameters. One of the most important factors is the price and reliability of electricity supply. The latest Eurostat report on electricity prices shows why many companies in Poland are relocating to other countries. The point is that we have some of the highest energy prices in Europe, and even the highest for energy-intensive industries.
The Eurostat data published on Friday concerns the second half of 2025. They are divided into individual price consumption levels for “non-residential”, i.e. business, customers. In the highest category of consumption by the most energy-intensive companies, over 150 thousand MWh per yearwe take second inglorious place. The price of a kilowatt hour with all taxes was 21 eurocents and it was more expensive only in Denmark (26 eurocents).
Read also: The real price of renewable energy? Deputy Minister of Energy: Time to discuss costs [TYLKO U NAS]
Well, these prices include VAT, which companies deduct. Companies are more interested in the price without this tax. Eurostat also provided such data. And here we look even worse, even the worst on the continent. The price without taxes was 17 euro cents per kWhthe highest in Europe. Behind us was Ireland with 16 eurocents, in Germany it was 13 eurocents and the EU average was 11 eurocents. It is cheapest in Norwaywhere large companies had to pay per kilowatt hour in the second half of last year. just 4 euro cents.
The most energy-intensive sectors, i.e. metallurgy, production of cement and building materials, chemical industry, paper production and even oil refining, are therefore in our country. competitively unfavorable position compared to similar entities in other countries on the continent.
Better conditions with lower consumption
The situation is better, although not very good, in the case of electricity prices for smaller companies with lower consumption than those above PLN 150,000. MWh per year. Consumes between 70,000 and 150,000. MWh in Poland paid 15 euro cents for 1 kWh of electricity excluding VAT. It was already more expensive in five countries: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Hungary and Slovakia.
In case of consumption between 20 and 70 thousand. MWh, higher prices are already proposed in six out of 35 European countries for which Eurostat has data. More expensive were: Cyprus, Ireland, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy and the Czech Republic.
In an even lower consumption category, between 2 thousand MWh, and 20 thousand Eight countries are already ahead of us, including Austria and the Netherlands, apart from those mentioned above. The same is true in even lower categories. This means that less energy-intensive companies do not feel such cost pressure to move their operations out of Poland from those that consume the largest amounts of electricity.
Price drops
Poland's position on the European energy price map was not improved by the fact that these prices decreased during the year. The most energy-intensive companies have to pay one euro cent less per kilowatt hour than a year earlier, and three euro cents less than two years ago.
Read also: Good news for drivers before the weekend. There are fuel prices for Friday
However, prices in other countries did not remain the same. In terms of prices for the most energy-intensive companies, Ireland is right behind us in terms of energy prices, where prices have dropped by 2 euro cents over the year. Similarly in Hungary. Our declines are at the level of the EU average.
However, in our country they fell more than in other countries in the lower category of consumption (70,000 MWh – 150,000 MWh), where the net price dropped by 2 eurocents year to year, and on average it did not change in the EU.
However, the smallest companies, those that use up to 2,000 MWh per year, they received an increase of 3 eurocents per kilowatt hour and, excluding VAT, they had to pay 36 eurocents. It was more expensive only in the Netherlands and Italy.
