Councillor Lesław Śliwko raised the issue of Zakład Energetyki Cieplnej’s profit during a City Council session held on 1 July. – Last year, during the session, I already stressed that a municipal company is a specific form of limited liability company – the councillor explains in an interview with IstotneInformacje.pl. – Whereas a limited liability company should generate the maximum possible profit, a municipal company is established for entirely different purposes: it should operate on a non-profit basis and meet the needs of all residents as effectively as possible. Of what I said last year, only the president of MZGK drew conclusions. And all credit to him for that. As for the remaining heads of municipal companies – I will leave that without comment.
In 2009, ZEC recorded a profit of more than PLN 677,000 (and paid more than PLN 135,000 in income tax). The forecast for 2010 projected a profit of nearly PLN 880,000 (income tax was then expected to exceed PLN 170,000). – That is just a shot fired for applause. A municipal company should not have a profit that results in the payment of income tax; after all, this is the money of all Bolesławiec residents – Lesław Śliwko stresses.
In the councillor’s view, Zakład Energetyki Cieplnej should lower heating prices. – I achieved my goal at the session. ZEC president Józef Król agreed with me that there is grounds for lowering heating prices – Lesław Śliwko adds.
– I only said that I agreed that municipal companies should not be focused on maximising profit – Józef Król clarifies. – On the basis of ignorance, untruths and a large dose of malice, a very negative image of the company is being created. We are making a profit and we are proud of it.
– The heating season ended on 26 May; it was long and difficult – Król continues. – But it also tested our company. Over six years, PLN 20 million was invested in renewing ZEC’s assets. This heating season showed that the investments we carried out were successful. Both I and the residents of Bolesławiec can sleep peacefully. Meanwhile, we are accused of the company not acting in the interests of consumers. It is exasperating.
– Our prices are competitive – the ZEC president assures. – What is more, we lowered heating prices for half of the city. It is also worth adding that Zakład Energetyki Cieplnej is subject to energy law and environmental protection law. This distinguishes us from all other companies. Our main goal is to deliver energy safely. We are the only municipal company whose prices are officially regulated. There is no possibility of my manipulating prices.
The head of ZEC also stresses that the company is not seeking to maximise profit. – Councillor Śliwko claims that a municipal company should operate on a non-profit basis. Only someone who does not know what they are talking about could agree with him. It is impossible to run a company such as ZEC without generating a profit – Król explains. – This profit demonstrates good management and a sound financial standing. We allocate it entirely to the company’s development, not to bonuses or dividends.
As Józef Król points out, the company achieved this profit precisely because of its investments. – They significantly reduced costs. We are now calmly repaying loans that we would not have received if ZEC had been in poor financial condition. But that is not the case. In the ranking of the “Polish District Heating” Chamber of Commerce, we are 14th in the country and first in the region – the company president says. – Are heating consumers being harmed? Absolutely not. I could ask a different question. What money does Councillor Śliwko receive his allowances from? From taxes, perhaps? In my opinion, it is reprehensible for a councillor to encourage people not to pay taxes. Heaven forbid we should have managers like that in our company. The councillor would bring it to ruin.
(information ii)