Services are provided on the basis of concessions held for heat generation, transmission and distribution. This year, a newly constructed police facility and a building with 70 apartments were connected to the district-heating network. In 2023, the following projects are planned: connecting the district-heating network to a commercial facility, including construction and gardening functions, and to additional apartments. The cost of the investment projects is approximately PLN 1 million.
ZEC guarantees heat supplies for residents. This year, a long-term agreement was signed with Polska Grupa Górnicza S.A. for the supply of good-quality, proven Polish coal with high calorific value (coal fines). The purchase price of coal increased by approximately 100% during 2022; nevertheless, it remains an attractive market price and is significantly lower than the price on the fuel exchange or that offered by other suppliers.
This action contributed to obtaining one of the lowest heat prices in the region, below the price of heat with compensation set by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, i.e. below PLN 103.82/GJ net. Today, coal-fired heat generation is among the most stable and economical sources of district heat.
When producing heat, ZEC complies with strict European Union environmental standards. Flue gases are discharged in an integrated and controlled manner using a two-stage dust-removal system consisting of multicyclones and new-generation NG-1 cyclone batteries. Distributed low-emission heat sources, such as individual stoves or boiler rooms in which low-quality fuels—and often rubbish—are burned, do not meet these standards.
Due to changes in cost factors in 2023, including an approximately 40% increase in the purchase and transport price of coal, a 6% increase in the price of heat is expected at the beginning of the year. However, residents will pay no more than 1% more for heat. This is due to the Sejm Act on providing support to households and public-utility institutions, which entered into force on 2 September 2022.
Pursuant to the Act, ZEC asked its heat customers—including the Housing Cooperative, homeowners’ associations, educational institutions, social institutions and others—to submit the relevant declarations. This joint action will result in an increase in the price of heat of only 1%, applicable until the end of April 2023. ZEC will apply to Zarządca Rozliczeń S.A. for compensation for the difference.
Using ZEC district heat has many advantages. In your apartment, you gain additional space otherwise occupied by a tiled stove or gas boiler. Safety and health are also very important considerations.
Connecting an apartment to the municipal network also significantly increases living comfort: there is no need to check the patency of flue ducts, carry out technical inspections of a gas boiler (which is not present), or check the tightness of the gas installation supplying fuel to the boiler.
To diversify its heat-generation sources, ZEC submitted an application to Polska Spółka Gazownictwa to determine the possibility of supplying the required amount of gas for cogeneration-based heat production. It also applied to the Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny for an opinion on the occurrence of geothermal waters in Bolesławiec and the possibility of using them for heating. The opinion received indicates that the geothermal potential around Bolesławiec is assessed as moderately positive; however, specific investment initiatives depend on prior specialist studies at the planned investment site.
Advantages of district heat and domestic hot water
- Safety of use – water is the heat-transfer medium in heating systems. The advanced technology of automatic regulation and control devices adjusts its temperature and flow to requirements and maintains the pressure at the proper level. There is no risk of explosion, fire, poisoning or electric shock. The importance of this is demonstrated by tragic cases of carbon-monoxide poisoning caused, for example, by defective tiled stoves, gas heaters or flue ducts.
- Health – the main health benefit of using district heat is avoiding the inhalation of harmful substances produced by individual coal stoves. It is estimated that approximately 43,000 people die in Poland each year (2019 data) because of poor air quality, the main cause of which is low emissions (the location of flue outlets less than 40 m above ground level).
- Quality of life – ZEC heat is a maintenance-free heating system. You do not need to worry about equipment inspections or purchasing fuel (as with gas heaters or coal stoves). It provides a constant sense of convenience and thermal comfort, regardless of the weather
outside. You have heat whenever you need it and hot water from the tap all year round. - Environmental protection – when producing heat, ZEC complies with strict environmental standards, unlike individual stoves that emit pollutants. It is more environmentally friendly than “smoking” chimneys on house roofs.
Enjoy the comfort provided by safe heat from the municipal network!!!
Warm yourself with our heat—it is so convenient!!!
Contact your property manager!!! Contact ZEC!!!
Zakład Energetyki Cieplnej Sp. z o.o., ul. K.I. Gałczyńskiego 51, 59-700 Bolesławiec
www.zec.boleslawiec.pl, e-mail: sekretariat@zec.boleslawiec.pl, tel. 75 732 08 43
