After years of careful energy conservation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Czech consumers are returning to their previous consumption patterns. The era of record-breaking declines in electricity and gas usage has come to an end, with nearly all consumer categories showing increased energy consumption last year.
Large-scale consumers led the surge with a 5.6% increase in electricity consumption, while households followed with a modest 1.1% rise. Despite overall consumption growth, energy production saw a 3.9% decline, primarily due to reduced output from pumped-storage hydroelectric and steam power plants. However, solar power installations brightened the picture, generating about 25% more electricity than the previous year.
Gas consumption remained relatively stable at 6.8 billion cubic meters, though temperature-adjusted figures reveal a 2% year-over-year increase. While households reduced their gas usage by 1.7%, other consumer categories showed increased consumption.
Jan Šefránek, chairman of the Energy Regulatory Office, attributes this shift partly to declining energy prices. The change marks a significant departure from the previous years’ record-low consumption patterns.
Weather conditions played a crucial role in 2024’s fluctuating gas consumption patterns. April saw a dramatic 22% year-over-year decrease, while October experienced a 19% increase. The first half of the year showed 7.9% lower consumption, contrasting with a 10.5% rise in the latter half.