The increase in the price of electricity in Slovenia could be expected by the end of the third quarter, when the long-term contracts of suppliers that will have to provide new deliveries expire.
Electricity consumers in Slovenia have not yet felt the price hit due to high energy prices on European markets due to the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, Alexander Mervar, general director of the transmission system operator ELES, told Radio Slovenia.
Mervar said that domestic suppliers bought electricity on time, in advance, so their average price is 55 euros per MWh. By the way, the prices on the European energy exchanges range between 120 and 200 euros per MWh, and last winter they went up to 540 euros.
However, these contracts expire in the third quarter of this year, Mervar added.
According to him, a household with a current monthly bill of 100 euros could pay 350-400 euros in 2023. However, if production prices in domestic power plants are taken into account, then the price for households, but not for companies, could be lower.
Speaking about the forecasts, Merwar believes that the end of the war in Ukraine would lead to lower prices, and that could happen in 2024. In the long run, he estimates that prices will be in the range of 100-110 euros per MWh.
New nuclear power plants will dictate prices in the future
In the coming years, Mervar expects that a large number of renewable power plants will be connected to the grid, and the new nuclear power plants will be marginal power plants, which means that they will dictate prices.
He stated that the public is deceived that energy companies in Slovenia, such as HSE and GEN, make enormous profits due to high market prices. They sold electricity at very low prices, Mervar added.
Therefore, as he pointed out, funds for subsidies to households and industry cannot be provided in the energy sector.
Source: balkangreenenergynews.com
