URSO: Common Electricity Market Doesn't Work, Slovakia Paying More Than West

Bratislava, 7 February (TASR) - Slovakia has to pay significantly more for electricity on the EU common market than Western countries, even though it produces almost the largest share of clean energy in the world, the Office for the Regulation of Network Industries (URSO) stated this week, adding that the common electricity market in the EU doesn't function properly. "We produce a surplus of electricity in Slovakia, and what's more, it's much cleaner than that from countries that are often held up as examples, such as Austria or Spain, or even Germany, the proclaimed leader in the development of renewable energy sources. Despite this, we're forced to buy expensive electricity on the common market, which is ruining our industry and households," said URSO chairman Jozef Holjencik. The Office for the Regulation of Network Industries has prepared an analysis showing that the EU's common internal market for electricity isn't working in the long term. Despite its own surplus, and, moreover, 'green' nuclear production, which puts it among the world leaders, Slovakia has to pay disproportionately high prices for electricity on the EU common market, much more than, for example, Germany, which partly produces electricity from "dirty" fossil fuels. The price of electricity for Slovakia on the stock exchange is currently just under €100 per megawatt hour (MWh), but in Germany it's approximately €86 and in France only €50/MWh. Slovakia also produces electricity with emissions of 95 grams (g) of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilowatt hour (kWh), which is significantly less than Germany (332 g/kWh), the Czech Republic (401 g/kWh) and even Austria, with emissions of 114 g of CO2/kWh. "Our analysis leads to two main conclusions. We mustn't succumb to propaganda about further uncoordinated development of renewable energy sources, and we must exert maximum pressure at the highest level to deal with the dysfunctional EU single market. Both threats are destroying our industry," added Holjencik. am/df