The increase in energy prices has significantly affected 44% of Slovaks, who are trying to compensate for it by cutting back on ancillary spending, especially on entertainment and various leisure activities, indicates a survey, conducted by Stem/Mark for Kruk Czech and Slovak Republic. Forty-five per cent of Slovak households are making efforts to reduce consumption and use alternative sources, More than 40 percent compensate for energy price increases by cutting other expenses and some have found a second job
Furthermore, one in ten Slovak households has not yet been affected by the increase in electricity and gas prices. Eleven percent of Slovak households are covering the increased energy costs from their savings and less than 6% of the Slovak respondents have been forced by the higher cost of living to find a second job. Only a minimum of Slovaks had to borrow to pay higher energy bills or additional payments, or to find other, less energy-intensive housing in order to save money.
Almost 10% of the survey respondents said that they were not affected by the rising energy prices and that they manage the new level of charges without financial difficulties. According to Jaroslava Palendalová, CEO of Kruk, the data on natural gas and electricity consumption show the efforts of Slovak households to save energy and use alternative sources. The Slovak government's help in solving the financial situation of Slovak households is also a plus, according to her. According to Palendalová, the unemployed and pensioners, who most often go into debt and move to smaller flats due to the higher cost of living, as well as people on parental leave, need help with higher energy prices.
Source: SITA
