Next year's electricity prices show that the solution is not state intervention, but own renewable energy sources

Price changes are taking place without sufficient justification
According to the decision of the Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (ÚRSO), households will pay at least 104 euros/MWh for the commodity component of the electricity price next year, which represents an increase of 70% compared to 2025.

“The regulator should explain such a significant increase transparently. Unfortunately, in Slovakia in recent years, price changes have been taking place without sufficient justification or clear calculation. This time, however, it is happening without a proper legislative process, which is a trend that we will not get used to and should not go unnoticed. Independence does not mean arbitrariness,” warns Ján Karaba, director of SAPI. As he adds, investing in your own RES is the surest protection against further unpredictable changes in energy prices.

Own resources will pay off more and more
The return on investment in a combination of photovoltaics and a heat pump was already at the level of 5-9 years at this year's - still subsidized - prices. The expected increase in the commodity part of the price will shorten this return even further.

"Photovoltaics or heat pumps are a reliable way to reduce energy bills and at the same time get rid of uncertainty about future price developments," adds Karaba. According to him, Slovakia will not be able to afford to continue expensive energy assistance in the coming years, as public finances need consolidation and are also significantly lacking in healthcare and education.

Last year, just over 14,000 photovoltaic installations with an output of 113 megawatts were added to Slovak households. There are more than 2.3 million households in Slovakia, of which only 60,000 use photovoltaics and about 80,000 use heat pumps.

Not only single-family homes can reduce their energy bills thanks to RES
"Only less than four percent of households use these currently cheapest energy sources. Energy subsidies also play a role in this, which, at the cost of literally burning billions of euros of our money, maintains the illusion of cheap energy and inhibits households' interest in their own sources," warns J. Karaba.

As he adds, not only single-family homes can reduce their energy bills thanks to RES. More than 1.8 million households in apartment buildings can also benefit from renewable energy sources.

"New apartment buildings already use heat pumps and photovoltaics. Older prefabricated houses can do the same. However, the way forward for these households in apartment buildings is to establish energy communities, within which they can use shared, cheaper electricity from green sources," adds J. Karaba.

Lazy support
SAPI also warns that the state should transparently communicate further steps to support the installation of small RES in households. Currently, ordinary households – apart from the socially disadvantaged – do not have the opportunity to receive support for the installation of small RES.

The Green for Households program, under which they could receive a contribution of up to 50% from EU funds for their own small RES, has been suspended since this June. In less than a year since the launch of the Green for Households program in autumn 2024, Slovak households have used up 107 million euros, which, according to the state, were supposed to last until the end of 2029.

“Five months have passed since the end of the provision of vouchers for small sources. Households have the right to know whether it is worth waiting for this support at all, or whether they should invest immediately and start saving,” warns J. Karaba. He also reminds that the relaunch of support through the Green for Households program in the past took more than 1.5 years.