Last November, we wrote that heating energy in Bolesławiec had become an average of 14% more expensive. Józef Król, president of ZEC, explained at the time that the price increase was connected with the dramatic situation on the coal markets. Fortunately, the company had accumulated almost 90% of its reserves of good-quality coal, purchased at a relatively low price. “Thanks to this, we have an increase of only 14%,” Józef Król told us in November Józef Król. And he added: “We are a municipal company; we are not focused on doing business.”
What is the situation today? “In my opinion, heat consumers have no reason to complain,” emphasizes the ZEC president. “The past season was particularly difficult; coal prices soared by 50%. Many heating companies raised their prices twice.”
However, as Józef Król assures us, the crisis did not affect the Bolesławiec company. “We waited it out calmly,” he says. What is more, ZEC experienced positive effects of the crisis. “Coal prices have fallen. We have a reliable supplier of much cheaper fuel. Heat consumers can sleep peacefully.”
According to the president, all this is thanks to investment and attention to coal quality. The completed modernization of the heating system, the so-called link, significantly improved the efficiency of energy deliveries. Józef Król estimates that the link will allow the company to save PLN 1.5 million annually. “All of this will be reflected in prices,” states the ZEC president. “We are only preparing to draw up a new tariff. But if there are price adjustments, they will not exceed the level of inflation,” he predicts.
ZEC does not intend to rest on its laurels, however. “This year, we will replace a large section of the heating network in the area of Primary School No. 1,” Józef Król announces. One of the boilers will also be modernized. “If it were not for the investments, heating in Bolesławiec would be almost twice as expensive,” the president adds.
(information ii)