Energy prices. The EU is not responsible for 60% of energy prices in Poland

• Some people use higher electricity prices as an argument to “free Poland” from the EU’s climate and energy policy. Unfortunately, these people do not explain how they intend to secure energy demand and lower bills at the same time when three out of four power plants in Poland are so old that they will have to be shut down in the next ten years – writes Timmermans
• EU funds can provide over PLN 180 billion for investments in green transformation in Poland. To this must be added 45 billion zlotys from the modernization fund – which is part of the emissions trading system attacked by some – reminds
• Poland is already the largest exporter of electric batteries and buses in Europe, which clearly shows that it has the industrial potential to lead the green transition. This transformation will not be easy for anyone in Europe. But if there is a country whose history shows the strength and will to change, it is Poland, says Timmermans in an article in response to rising energy prices in Europe.
• Frans Timmermans is a Dutch politician from the Party of European Socialists. He is the vice-president of the European Commission responsible for the European Green Deal
• You can find more such stories on the Onet.pl homepage

In recent weeks, many Polish families and entrepreneurs have received higher energy bills.

In this context, a lot has been said about European energy and climate policy. However, let’s be clear: EU policy is NOT responsible for 60 percent. Your energy bills. Some people use such a number, distorting the meaning of the discussion and ignoring the fact that a significant part of the energy bill consists of costs of its transmission, national taxes and other fees, and the fee for carbon dioxide emissions does not go to Brussels, but directly to the Polish budget.

Others use higher electricity prices as an argument to “free Poland” from the EU’s climate and energy policy. Unfortunately, these people do not explain how they intend to secure energy demand and lower bills at the same time when three out of four power plants in Poland are so old that they will have to be shut down in the next ten years, and most of the electricity is produced today from expensive coal. They also do not say how they will free Poles from air pollution, which is already a serious threat to the health of many citizens, or from climate change, which is followed by increasing losses and costs for the economy related to more frequent floods and extreme weather events.

What is missing, however, is honest information on the revenues provided to the Polish government by the European system of fees for greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy transformation. Poles are afraid of their wallets. Experts: wrong

Heavy industry and energy companies have to buy greenhouse gas emission allowances from the European Emissions Trading System. This is not a tax collected by Brussels. The money from these auctions remains in Poland and contributes to the national budget. Only in 2021, PLN 28 billion was transferred to the Polish budget.

Using only half of this amount, the Polish government could grant almost PLN 8,000 to every Polish family that cannot make ends meet last year. Indeed, the government used some of these revenues to finance some support measures, including cuts in energy prices for schools and hospitals.

Revenues from the sale of emission allowances should also be invested in the modernization of the Polish energy sector. Only long-term changes to our energy systems can protect European consumers from soaring prices caused by external factors.

Unfortunately, the energy transformation in Poland is much slower than in neighboring countries. Since 2005, emissions have only decreased by 8%. At the same time, Romania reduced these emissions by 27, Slovakia by 25 and the Czechs by 21%.

In most European countries, it is the situation on the global gas market that is behind the current increase in energy prices, and the impact of carbon dioxide prices has a very limited influence. The situation in Poland is different, because for years there have been no specific actions in the gradual withdrawal from coal, and the whole world already knows that it is inevitable. Polish mining regions are waiting for a clear signal to be able to plan how to move away from coal and secure future jobs.

It is the delayed decisions that make the price of carbon dioxide emissions around 20 percent. (not 60%) of energy bills in Poland – much more than the average in other EU countries.

Schemes for taxing drivers for CO2 emissions. Huge controversy

So what is the real problem? Is it the high carbon price or increasing pollution? Is it the EU climate policy, or is it rather the lack of decisive action in the field of energy transformation, which makes Polish families pay such high prices? We should also remember that 45,000 die every year as a result of air pollution. Poles. These are real costs, and the longer the departure from coal is delayed, the longer Polish families will bear them – directly and indirectly.

Over the past 20 years, Poland has spent one trillion zlotys on importing fossil fuels, mainly from Russia. Shouldn’t we decide to jointly invest in Polish houses and businesses instead of enriching Putin’s budget?

Europe has a plan to move away from expensive fossil fuel imports. We have a plan for cheaper energy produced in Europe, thanks to which we will also breathe cleaner air. This plan is the European Green Deal. Renewable energy is currently the cheapest form of electricity generation in Europe. It has the lowest production cost and the lowest carbon price, and requires no import. Polish citizens deserve to benefit from it.

Europe is ready to invest in the Polish energy transformation and wants to support Polish mining families and regions in the energy transformation.

EU funds can provide over PLN 180 billion for investments in green transformation in Poland. To this we need to add 45 billion zlotys from the modernization fund – which is part of the emission trading system attacked by some. We also proposed a new Social Climate Fund, under which Polish families and small entrepreneurs can receive an additional PLN 58 billion for investments in cleaner heating, production of their own electricity, or simply help with paying energy bills.

There is no shortage of funds, but specific decisions are needed to make investors more willing to enter the Polish market. The sooner the Polish authorities recognize these facts, accept the need for changes and clearly signal their commitment to the energy transformation, the greater will be investor confidence and the faster the inflow of money.

Poland has already proved that it is able to modernize its economy quickly and effectively. Many Poles want to reap the benefits of affordable renewable energy: last year the number of prosumers doubled and now stands at 800,000. 35 thousand. jobs in sectors that provide services to prosumers. Poland is also already the largest exporter of electric batteries and buses in Europe, which clearly shows that it has the industrial potential to lead the green transformation.

This transformation will not be easy for anyone in Europe. But if there is a country whose history shows the strength and will to change, it is Poland.