Bills for power up! The power charge returns – see how much you will pay in 2025.

The August electricity bills will bring an unpleasant surprise for millions of Poles. After months of temporary relief, the forgotten power charge returns, which has been charged again by all electricity customers since 1 July 2025. The first customers, accounting for a month, have already received July invoices with an extra item and, as you can imagine, their reactions are not positive. This is simply a signal that the era of inexpensive current is definitely ending, and the government is gradually withdrawing from the most costly forms of energy support, investigating social acceptance for restoring full strategy costs. Most Poles, especially those with a two-month or six-month settlement, only in August and September will see a full image of fresh costswhich may importantly affect the home budget.

End of relief: Power fee returns – since erstwhile and for whom?

The shock in the accounts has already reached the first recipients. Customers accounting for each period with energy suppliers have already opened their July invoices and with disbelief saw the return of the power fee. As reported Energy Regulatory Office (URE), since 1 July 2025, this additional charge has again charged all electricity customers in Poland. Let us remind, for the first half of this year, it was suspended under the alleged "energy shield" to defend consumers from drastic increases. But now the relief is over.

Many Poles are not yet aware of the upcoming changes. Only in August and September will people with a half-year or two-month settlement open their accounts, which will contain a fresh position. It does not substance whether you live in your own flat or rent it – Power fee will be paid by allwho usage electricity. Renters of apartments or single-family homes will find a power charge on their electricity bills on equal terms with owners. Even those surviving in work apartments or dormitories bear this cost, straight or indirectly, by property managers. That means there's no escape from this load.

How much precisely will you pay? circumstantial rates and consumption groups.

URE has already established circumstantial rates to apply by the end of 2025. The amount of the charge depends solely on the yearly energy consumption of the household, which means that The more power you use, the more you pay. The rates are divided into 4 thresholds:

• Consumers less than 500 kWh per year They'll pay. PLN 2,86 per month. These are mostly tiny single-person apartments with basic equipment.
• Consumption farms 500 to 1200 kWh per year are charged the amount PLN 6.86 per month.
• The vast majority of Polish families will be in the 3rd group – with consumption from 1200 to 2800 kWh per year the fee will be PLN 11,14 per month. According to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), the average Polish household uses just so much energy.
• Most will be paid by families who usage electrical devices intensively. At consumption above 2800 kWh per year The fee will scope 16.01 PLN per month. This will affect owners of heat pumps, air conditioning, electrical cars or home workshops.

Over the full year, the return of the power charge means for a typical household (group 1200-2800 kWh) additional expenditure about PLN 134. For the most energy-intensive homes the yearly cost can scope even 192 PLN. According to Forsal.pl portal, the average yearly electricity expenditure can increase by up to PLN 70 compared to the period of suspension of the fee. This is another burden at a time erstwhile prices of virtually all goods and services are rising.

Annual burden and intent of charge: Why are we paying for the power plant's readiness?

Many people wonder what the power charge is and why we gotta pay it. This is simply a peculiar wage for power plants – not for the energy produced and delivered, but for themselves maintaining readiness to deliver it. This mechanics is intended to guarantee the stableness of the supply of electricity at times of highest demand, erstwhile request for energy abruptly increases, e.g. on hot days with intense air conditioning or cold winters. In practice, this means financing plants that may stay inactive for most of the year, but must be ready to run within a fewer twelve minutes.

Ministry of Climate and Environment justify the return of the fee by ensuring the country's energy security. The hotel explains that the suspension was only a temporary solution, and extending the relief would be ‘too far-reaching’ to marketplace mechanisms. It is simply a strategical investment in the stableness of the system, which is designed to prevent the blackouts and power outages, although its cost is borne by all recipients. For consumers, however, this means that they pay not only for the energy actually consumed, but besides for "peace" and safety of supply.

How to minimize additional costs? applicable advice for Poles.

Although the power charge cannot be avoided, it can be affected by Energy efficiency. Those who manage to reduce yearly consumption below 1200 kWh will automatically control to a lower tariff group and save more than 50 PLN per year compared to the average group. It's a circumstantial amount you can leave in your wallet.

Simple but effective methods of saving are:

• Replacement of lighting to Energy-efficient LED bulbs.
• Use of devices in economic modes (e.g. washing machine, dishwasher).
• Disconnecting electronics from standby mode (so-called "electricity eaters").
• Avoid simultaneous activation of multiple high-power devices, especially during highest hours.

Energy consumption monitoring is now becoming even more important. Any kilowatt hr saved during the year may shift the household to a lower tariff group and reduce the monthly fee. Investment in energy efficiency solutions specified as better insulation or modern windows is besides worth considering, which will bring real savings in the long term.

What's next with the electricity bills? Experts inform against further changes.

The return of the power charge is only the first component of the gradual recovery of the full costs of the energy system. The energy shield inactive protects against drastic increases in basic tariffs, but its future remains uncertain. Climate hotel announces recalculation of tariffs in the 4th fourth of 2025, which aims to further reduce the fees to individual customers. In practice this may mean further corrections in the settlement system, which may surprise Poles.

Market experts inform that the power levy is only the beginning. In the coming years, further increases related to modernisation of the energy system, expanding energy production costs, especially from renewable sources, and the request to comply with EU requirements. For an average family, this means planning an additional PLN 11-16 per period in the home budget. This may not sound dramatic, but in the context of an overall increase in the cost of living, any additional expenditure is important. Let us be ready for further changes by monitoring the communications of regulators and energy suppliers.