Slovenia will freeze electricity prices, add 1 GW of solar energy to supply homes
The Government of Slovenia has declared the first level of emergency in electricity production, Prime Minister Robert Golob said. He added that one of the measures is the construction of large solar power plants with a total capacity of 1 GW by 2025, which will meet the needs of a third of the country’s households. Electricity prices will be frozen from September 1.
Shortly after the Energy Agency declared a gas supply alert so that emergency measures could be taken to maintain stability, the government declared a first-level emergency in power generation. Prime Minister Robert Golob, who announced the move, explained that the aim is to preserve fuel in the sector for the winter, “from petroleum products to gas to coal” and to double strategic commodity reserves.
In an interview with RTV Slovenija, he said that the crisis mode is also intended to make people aware that they should think about saving energy. As for plans for the winter, the government has also decided to freeze electricity prices for households and small businesses for one year from 1 September.
Solar energy to keep bills stable for 40 years
The third measure is the preparation of the power system to take over another 1 GW in large solar power plants by 2025. The plan will be developed with the transmission system operator ELES and the distribution system operator SODO, the government announced.
Large solar power plants to supply households will be placed where the grid will carry them
According to Golob, the facilities will be built in such a way that they will provide access to a third of households in Slovenia via the community platform. The price will be known in advance, so there will be no problems with expensive electricity for the next 40 years, the Prime Minister asserted. Solar power plants will be installed where the grid can handle them, he added.
Savings for households, small businesses estimated at 15% to almost 60%
Infrastructure Minister Bojan Kumer said that the price freeze will be linked to the optimization of the supply chain, so that suppliers can sell electricity with smaller profits.
In the laws, the item for the contribution for renewable energy sources will be halved, and the value added tax will be reduced to 9.5 percent. Excise duty on electricity was previously reduced by 50%.
The higher rate for households and small businesses will be 11.8 cents per kilowatt hour, while the lower rate will be 8.2 cents and the flat rate will be 9.8 cents. Kumar estimated annual savings of 15% to nearly 60%, depending on current prices paid to suppliers.
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