Even though electricity and gas prices have plunged since the energy crisis three years ago, Czech households have stuck with their thriftier habits. A survey by energy supplier Epet reveals that two in five families reduced indoor temperatures by one to two degrees over the past year, while one in five cut even more. These changes persist despite lower bills, showing how the crisis reshaped everyday routines.
About one-fifth of households invested in efficiency upgrades over the last two years, such as insulation, new windows, or more efficient heating systems. Another ten percent plan to follow suit next year, eyeing heat pumps or solar panels. Roman Šmíd, Epet’s commercial director, notes that people have simply gotten used to turning down the heat: “Households have adopted a more frugal approach that they’re keeping, even as energy prices drop.”
Comfort levels now hover around 21°C for most, with only one-fifth preferring warmer spaces and under a quarter opting for 18-20°C. Jiří Tyleček from XTB explains the shift: “Energy used to be cheap and ignored—people just opened windows to cool down. The crisis embedded the idea of conservation, prompting folks to dial back thermostats.” Yet analyst Lukáš Kaňok from Kalkulátor.cz cautions that consumption is ticking up again, though pensioners living alone continue to save where they can.
Prices on wholesale markets have fallen for two straight years since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine, but many households haven’t felt the full relief—over 40 percent report no noticeable drop, and a quarter see only mild changes. Three-quarters monitor usage at least occasionally, with 35 percent doing so regularly. Šmíd highlights a simple fix: switching suppliers, which can yield the biggest savings and now takes just minutes online by uploading a recent bill.
The habit of checking bills has become routine, but passivity lingers when comparing providers. “The energy world is changing fast—switching is straightforward, even without expert knowledge,” Šmíd adds. Still, Tyleček points out that costs remain high by EU standards, adjusted for purchasing power, keeping vigilance essential.