Measures to moderate price increases
Measures to mitigate high energy prices
The government has taken measures to control high energy prices to moderate prices and measures for reliable supply. Within the latter, a greater use of solar architecture throughout Slovenia is planned.
Measures to mitigate high energy prices
For the time between September 1, 2022 and 31 August 2023Government determined the highest price of electricity for resale for households and small businesses and determined the highest price of natural gas for resale for protected customers. Government by capping margins to all traders of petroleum products limited the prices of oil and petroleum products on highways and fuel oil.The government maintained a lower excise duty for electricity and natural gas. For the period between 1 September 2022 and 31 May 2023, Government reduced the VAT rate to 9.5 percent for electricity, natural gas, district heating and firewood. From September 1, a lower contribution to provide support for the production of electricity from renewable sources and from high-efficiency cogeneration (resources + CHP contribution).
The government will help small, medium and large companies honey 1 June and 31 December 2022 by co-financing the costs of electricity and natural gas above the two-fold increase in their prices. The amount of support depends on the changed position of the company in relation to prices in 2021 and 2022. Small and medium-sized companies are entitled to support in the amount of up to 50 percent of the eligible costs, and large companies up to 30 percent of the eligible costs. justified costs. When proving a business loss, energy-intensive companies will be able to apply for reimbursement of up to 70 percent of eligible costs; the maximum aid amount is 2 million euros. The government also allocated 6 million euros for favorable liquidity assistance to small and medium-sized companies affected by the crisis. The total estimated value of measures to help the economy amounts to 86 million euros.
The government has also enabled more favorable taxation of the reimbursement of transport costs to and from work.
Measures for security of supply
The government has adopted a legal basis for the adoption of temporary measures in case of increased risk in the energy supply (in the event of disturbances in the energy and gas supply, a lower or higher level of risk may be declared) and measures for the security of energy supply. . The law regulates the storage of gas, the release of mandatory reserves of oil and oil derivatives, and exceptions to the achievement of efficiency indicators of the district heating system.
Measures taken to reduce dependence on imports:
- promoting self-care,
- the government can restrict lighting and heating in public buildings and buildings where people gather,
- natural gas consumers have the right not to be connected to the natural gas distribution system if they use renewable energy sources for heating,
- customers who voluntarily decide to reduce gas and electricity consumption by 15 percent will be rewarded.
The government has provided mandatory and alternative gas supply for protected customers (households, kindergartens and schools, hospitals, student dormitories, retirement homes, prisons, etc.)which could suddenly be left without a supplier or an offer from a new supplier.
To ensure a stable gas supply, the government adopted a law on guaranteeing the obligations of the companies GEN energija, HSE and Geoplin to ensure their liquidity.
Careful handling of energy products
Council of the EU adopted a regulation on harmonized measures to reduce gas demand in the period from August 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 by 15 percent based on the average consumption of the last five years due to the risk of further interruptions in the supply of gas from Russia. Energy Agency urges customers to they use energy more rationally and find solutions for replacement of gas with other energy sources.
For this purpose, we are preparing an action plan with different scenarios on how to abandon the use of natural gas of Russian origin by 2025.
That the state authorities be an example, The government has committed the central state administration to the rational use of energy: during the heating season, the rooms are not cooled to less than 25 °C and not heated to more than 20 °C.
Promoting the green transition
The government’s goal is for all Slovenian households to be full independent of fossil fuels into their energy supply by 2030 and have their own own, long-term source of energy. The government is planning the process of greater utilization of solar energy or accelerate the construction of solar power plants in Slovenia. We are also preparing measures that will enable a third of Slovenian households to access community solar farms.