The Office for the Regulation of Network Industries (URSO) issued a decision for the SPP gas utility according to which gas prices are supposed to double, whereas the Economy Ministry finds the URSO approach unacceptable and intends to assure the public that Slovak households won't pay more in their gas bills than in the previous year.
"I find it highly unorthodox that Slovak households today are getting needlessly stressed out by decisions that won't realistically come into effect. People don't need to worry: we'll meet promises we gave them before the election and the energy prices won't go up," declared Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD).
She finds unacceptable the approach of URSO, which issued the decision on next year's prices even before the government could draft its compensation policy for household prices.
"The uncoordinated approach by nominees of the previous government at URSO is not in accordance with the policy and standards promoted by the current ministry management," stated the Economy Ministry.
The ministry added that the SPP, under its new leadership, will change its gas procurement strategy in 2024, so as to make it more advantageous to Slovak households. "Stable electricity and gas prices for households are a priority for the entire government. That's why together with the Finance Ministry, the Prime Minister and the House Chair, we negotiated a solution to be presented by the government as early as next week," added Sakova.
(TASR)
