BRATISLAVA, March 17, (WEBNOVINY) – This summer, heating companies will probably increase the prices of heat. All large and medium-sized industrial consumers, as well as state institutions, should then pay approximately 12 percent more for heat supplies. As Miroslav Obsivany, Chairman of the Slovak Association of Heat Producers said, the heat prices increase will be caused by a 12-20 percent increase of natural gas prices for these categories of purchasers. Some 70 percent of the overall heat price depends on the price of natural gas, price of which will rise due to the situation in Arab countries influencing the global oil prices. “It is probable that the producers of heat for the non-residential sector will demand new prices in the summer,” Obsivany continued.
At this time, heating companies do not know whether they will increase prices for households this year as well. They first have to wait whether the gas utility Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel (SPP) requests the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (URSO) to change the regulated price of natural gas used for heat production and whether URSO approves the change (if asked for it). “In the case that URSO does not approve the increase of the price of [natural] gas for heat production, we will have no reason to increase the price of heat for households this year. Whether this is true, is in the hands of the Regulatory Office,” said Obsivany, adding that SPP is definitely expected to request the increase.
This year, the prices of heat for Slovak households have risen by 2 to 10 percent. “This increase reflects the increase of natural gas price, cancellation of the excise tax exemptions and an increase in VAT,” added Obsivany. This year’s heat price was negatively influenced mostly by the increase of the price of natural gas for producing heat for the households, which was approved by URSO.
SITA