The Energy Regulatory Office in Czechia imposed a record 18.5 million CZK in fines last year for practices harming consumers, signaling a significant rise in cases of energy fraudsters.
Last year, the Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ) in Czechia levied a historic total of 18.5 million CZK in fines against energy companies for harmful practices towards consumers, marking a record amount in over twenty years of the office's existence. This included the highest individual fine of six million CZK imposed on Elgas Energy. The increase in fines reflects a growing concern over practices classified as 'energy fraud', affecting consumer protections significantly.
The total fines issued by the ERÚ reached a staggering 28.4 million CZK, also a record high, with anti-consumer practices comprising a significant majority of these sanctions. The previous record set in 2024 was 14.3 million CZK, indicating a worrying trend of escalating violations in the energy sector. The office reported numerous instances of non-issued billing, unresolved complaints, unreturned overpayments, and illegal customer transfers to spot market products as prevalent issues warranting fines.
ERÚ stated that the magnitude of penalties for anti-consumer actions has increased year-over-year, and safeguarding consumer rights remains a key priority. As the number of cases involving energy fraud continues to rise, the office aims to enhance its measures against these practices, ultimately striving to promote accountability and transparency within the energy market in Czechia.
