According to preliminary data from the Energy Regulatory Office, Czech households and businesses consumed one-fifth less natural gas in 2022 than in 2021. After accounting for weather variations, consumption was about 15% lower.

This is in line with the European Commission’s call last year to reduce gas consumption by around 15% due to the Russian gas supply shortfall. The biggest savings were in May, when consumption was down by a third compared to the previous year, and in October, when it fell by more than a quarter.

The main reason for the reduction in consumption was rapidly rising gas prices, which affected all sectors.

The savings in gas consumption were seen across both households and businesses, with both sectors contributing to the reduction. The analyst from the Energy Regulatory Office, Jiří Gavor, noted that while there are areas of consumption for businesses that are not heating-based, such as technology-based, the opportunity for savings is not as easily attainable for them. Gavor added that savings will continue this year, but at a slower pace.

The government has set the price ceiling for households, entrepreneurs, and companies at three crowns per kWh, including VAT, for this year. The savings will depend on how quickly household investment measures such as insulation, heat pumps, or photovoltaics are implemented. A number of companies are also planning savings, but in their case, the analyst said, they need to prepare a project, ask for contractors, and then implement it.

Article by Prague Forum