THE PRICES of electricity for companies in Slovakia are the fourth highest in the European Union, according to EU statistics based on data from 2012. The only countries with higher electricity prices are Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, the Sme daily reported on April 24.
“The European Commission has identified high electricity prices in particular for industrial producers,” said Marlene Holzner, spokesperson for European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger, as quoted by Sme. “This might be a barrier to the competitiveness of companies in Slovakia.”
Holzner added that this problem relates only to the part of the price which consists of various fees, for example those for operation of the national grid and for distribution of electricity through cables to companies.
Brussels did not criticise the rest of the end price of electricity, composed of the actual price of electricity traded on exchange markets, Sme wrote.
Miroslav Lupták, spokesperson for the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO), told Sme that the fact that Brussels does not like the distribution fees “does not mean that they are not correct”.
