Gas meter – illustrative photo.
Liberec – Gas prices in the Czech Republic, published on Wednesday in its report by the European statistical office Eurostat, do not correspond to reality and it is necessary to find out why. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) told journalists at the Pirates meeting in Liberec. Next week, he will therefore meet with representatives of energy companies, the Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ) and the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). According to a Eurostat report, gas prices for households in the second half of last year rose the most in the Czech Republic out of the entire European Union.
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“We have to find out why it doesn't correspond to reality. I don't know if Eurostat is behind it, but the data is supplied by our institutions. And we have to find out what is the responsibility of the Energy Regulatory Office, what is the responsibility of the Czech Statistical Office. We know, and just look at the statements and facts presented by energy companies that the numbers simply do not add up and that our citizens are not paying these amounts,” added Fiala, who wants to find out where the problem is at next week's meeting.
“What we know is that what was published does not match even in those amounts and it doesn't match even in the tendency. It's just that the prices developed in a different way, the key energy players on the market say it openly, and if you, for example, a company that has 40 percent of the electricity market, will say that such prices could apply to a maximum of two to three percent of their customers, so it is clear that the numbers simply do not add up. It is something that then unnecessarily worries the Czech public, and rightfully so. We must have the certainty that we are also working in the public space with numbers and data that correspond to reality,” added Fiala.
The Union Statistical Office announced on Wednesday that gas prices for households in the Czech Republic increased year-on-year in the second half of last year by 231 percent, by far the most of all EU countries. For example, in Slovakia, growth was 18 percent and was the second lowest in the EU. According to Eurostat, the data collection and methodology used correspond to the prices as charged to customers. “The final prices paid by customers include compensatory measures taken by the government,” Eurostat said.
ERÚ spokesman Michal Kebort pointed out on Wednesday that the prices quoted by Eurostat are based on the then price offers of suppliers on the market intended for new customers . At that time, the vast majority of people in the Czech Republic paid lower prices for gas.
