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URE Outlines Road Map for Liberalization of Polish Power Market

Posted on: Wednesday, 16 April 2008, 09:01 CDT

Poland's Energy Regulatory Office has submitted proposals for steps to be taken by the end of 2008 to continue the process of liberalizing the Polish energy market, drawing criticism from some market participants who consider such moves noble in idea but lacking in practicality.

The Energy Regulatory Office's (URE) proposals reportedly seek to shield the customers from uncertainties and at the same time implement conditions viable for the liberalization of the electrical energy market.

Mariusz Swora, URE's head, noted that the primary aim of the proposals is to protect the consumers' interests by following the guidelines set out by the European Union. Mr Swora added that the ability to switch electricity providers is a major part of any liberalized regime and that there are serious limitations for such measures to be adopted currently.

URE's head said that, as part of the effort to provide more choice to the consumer, complete access to electricity consumption data will be necessary to make switching utilities easier. For this, a remote data transmission system has also been suggested. Feasibility studies are reportedly being carried out on such a system on the scale of the entire country.

While energy industry experts are positive about the URE's proposed road map, they are concerned of too much being done only by the regulator without the implementation of supplier-of-last-resort regulations. They have also viewed the regulator's goals of reaching out to vulnerable customers as noble but lacking in clarity.

Source: Datamonitor

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