Czech households experienced a notable decrease in heat consumption last year, with heating plants across the Czech Republic reporting a 2.6% reduction in supply compared to the previous year. This decline can be attributed to unusually warm weather conditions, with average temperatures during the heating season reaching 7.21 degrees Celsius – almost two degrees above the long-term average.
“2024 proved to be 2% less demanding in terms of heating requirements compared to 2023,” explains Jiří Vecka, the association’s director. “When compared to the long-term average, last year’s heating demands were actually almost 12% lower”. This positive trend suggests that most households with properly set advance payments should expect slight refunds during their May 2024 final billing.
However, the landscape is set to change in 2025. Coal-powered heating plants have announced price increases ranging from three to ten percent, which will result in monthly heating and hot water expenses rising by several dozen crowns for most households. While gas-powered facilities have reduced their prices by up to ten percent, coal-based heating remains the more economical option.
The heating market in the Czech Republic is predominantly served by coal-powered plants, which account for over 50% of household heat supply, followed by gas at around 25%, with biomass and other sources making up the remainder.