The President of the Energy Regulatory Office (URE) has approved the tariffs for the sale and distribution of electricity for 2026
- Starting from 1 January 2026, for households covered by the electricity tariff approved by the President of URE, the price per MWh will average PLN 495.16. This means it will be lower than the “frozen” price that applied in 2025 - said Renata Mroczek, President of URE.
Electricity tariffs are approved by the President of URE primarily for household consumers. Electricity distribution tariffs are approved for all tariff groups, including businesses.
How do prices and rates change under the approved tariffs?
The total electricity bill comprises the cost of electricity supply and distribution (transport).
Due to price decreases on the wholesale market relative to prices under long-term contracts concluded in 2024, electricity prices in suppliers’ 2026 tariffs, approved by the President of URE, are lower than those for 2025, averaging PLN 495.16/MWh. The resulting reduction is around 14 per cent compared with the prices in the tariffs approved for Q4 2025 and around 1 per cent below the frozen price level.
Regarding the distribution tariff, the average increase was 9.36 per cent (approximately PLN 28/MWh) compared with the 2025 level. This rise is driven by the necessary capital investment by the companies responsible for our country’s network infrastructure in the expansion and modernisation of transmission and distribution networks. The level of distribution tariffs is also shaped by the transmission tariff of Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (the transmission system operator) and by inflation.
In the 2026 distribution tariff, most companies’ own rates remained at the current level or increased by less than inflation. However, the total household bill, including additional items (e.g., surcharges related to cogeneration, capacity, RES, and quality), increased on average by approximately 7.6 per cent.
Nearly 90 per cent of household electricity consumers fall into the G11 tariff group, with an average annual consumption of 1.8 MWh. For households at this consumption level, the average monthly increase on the bill will be around 3 per cent, in line with inflation.
What are the components of the electricity distribution tariff?
The rates set out in the approved tariffs of distribution system operators take into account the operating costs of their licensed activities. The distribution tariffs also include other charges resulting from legal regulations, which are itemised on the electricity bill and collected by distributors, i.e.:
- The cogeneration charge will be 3 PLN/MWh. The charge is related to a scheme supporting electricity produced in co-generation units.
- The capacity levy, applicable to the consumer group with consumption between 1.2 MWh and 2.8 MWh, will amount to PLN 17.18 per month. The capacity levy is intended to cover the costs of energy security. It is a mechanism to remunerate power generators for their readiness to provide grid capacity. The primary rationale for introducing the levy was the need to ensure the stability and security of power supply.
- The RES charge will be 7.3 PLN/MWh. Its introduction aims to support electricity generation from renewable sources and the operation of mechanisms that help ensure an adequate share of ‘green energy’ in the national energy mix.
- The quality charge will be PLN 0.0331/kWh. This charge remunerates PSE for the use of the power grid.
The President of URE’s decisions, together with the approved tariffs, are available on the URE’s website.
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All prices approved and announced by URE are exclusive of VAT and excise duty.