Several towns and villages all over Slovakia will turn of their public lighting on Monday evening. Their aim is to draw attention to the fact that the failure to address the issue of energy prices for local governments has extremely serious and negative impacts on the performance of their basic tasks. Public lights will be turned off for a half an hour as of 7 p.m. Slovak Towns and Villages Association expects the Government to unveil measures to help towns weather high energy charges from the autumn and winter of 2022 and this year as well.
The Government announced aid for towns and villages hit hard by the energy crisis. In January 1-March 31, electricity prices for towns and villages are to be capped at €199 per mega watthour (MWh) and gas prices at €99 per MWh. If electricity and gas costs exceed this limit, 80 percent of the difference is to be paid by the state.
Interim Economy Minister Karel Hirman met representatives of local governments recently. He informed them that the aid will be sent via a scheme that was put in place in December. They will be able to apply for first set of compensation for January in February.
Source: TASR
