January 15, 2026
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Slovenia to aid energy-intensive companies with EUR 30 million per year

The Government of Slovenia has adopted a bill on state aid for energy-intensive companies.

Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer said following a government session that the bill on state aid for energy-intensive companies addresses the serious challenges facing this segment of the Slovenian economy.

He added that these companies generate high added value, account for a significant share of Slovenia’s exports, and provide thousands of quality jobs, often in regions which offer no alternative employment opportunities.

According to an analysis from last May, electricity tariffs for Slovenian businesses were among the highest in the European Union.

The law aims to ensure competitiveness for companies exposed to international competition, for which electricity costs are a key factor in business operations.

Around 40 companies should benefit from the state aid

In difficult global economic conditions, support for energy-intensive companies is essential to help them remain competitive in international markets, the minister emphasized.

The subsidies will be limited to electricity consumption over the next three years, including 2026. The ministry expects them to be available to approximately 40 companies in the chemical, steel, and paper industries.

The law defines clear criteria for receiving aid, limits on the amount of support, control mechanisms, and sanctions in case of violations, with the beneficiaries required to allocate at least half of the received aid to sustainable investments, according to the ministry.

The annual electricity consumption threshold is 15 GWh

Funding for the subsidies will come from sources outside the state budget, through companies wholly owned by the government that operate the country’s key electricity generation capacities. The estimated amount of aid is approximately EUR 30 million a year.

The government will send the bill to parliament for consideration under a fast-track procedure, as its implementation will require timely approval from the European Commission.

To qualify for the subsidies, companies will have to meet criteria including annual electricity consumption of more than 15 GWh and a share of electricity costs in the company’s added value of at least 5%, Naš stik reported.

They will also be required to have an established energy management system and to invest at least half of the savings from lower electricity prices in decarbonizing production or improving energy efficiency.

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January 12, 2026
by in News

Slovenia to aid energy-intensive companies with EUR 30 million per year

The Government of Slovenia has adopted a bill on state aid for energy-intensive companies.

Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer said following a government session that the bill on state aid for energy-intensive companies addresses the serious challenges facing this segment of the Slovenian economy.

He added that these companies generate high added value, account for a significant share of Slovenia’s exports, and provide thousands of quality jobs, often in regions which offer no alternative employment opportunities.

According to an analysis from last May, electricity tariffs for Slovenian businesses were among the highest in the European Union.

The law aims to ensure competitiveness for companies exposed to international competition, for which electricity costs are a key factor in business operations.

Around 40 companies should benefit from the state aid

In difficult global economic conditions, support for energy-intensive companies is essential to help them remain competitive in international markets, the minister emphasized.

The subsidies will be limited to electricity consumption over the next three years, including 2026. The ministry expects them to be available to approximately 40 companies in the chemical, steel, and paper industries.

The law defines clear criteria for receiving aid, limits on the amount of support, control mechanisms, and sanctions in case of violations, with the beneficiaries required to allocate at least half of the received aid to sustainable investments, according to the ministry.

The annual electricity consumption threshold is 15 GWh

Funding for the subsidies will come from sources outside the state budget, through companies wholly owned by the government that operate the country’s key electricity generation capacities. The estimated amount of aid is approximately EUR 30 million a year.

The government will send the bill to parliament for consideration under a fast-track procedure, as its implementation will require timely approval from the European Commission.

To qualify for the subsidies, companies will have to meet criteria including annual electricity consumption of more than 15 GWh and a share of electricity costs in the company’s added value of at least 5%, Naš stik reported.

They will also be required to have an established energy management system and to invest at least half of the savings from lower electricity prices in decarbonizing production or improving energy efficiency.

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December 27, 2025
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EU’s new power pricing interval boosts BESS profit potential – analysis

The rollout of the European Union’s new power pricing system in October, with prices set every 15 minutes, rather than every hour, has increased the profit potential of battery energy storage systems (BESS). In several countries, BESS profits now have the potential to rise by more than 15%, according to an analysis by research and energy intelligence company Rystad Energy.

Thanks to the 15-minute trading interval, arbitrage potential on the EU’s day-ahead power markets has increased by an average of 14%, with some countries, such as Austria and Slovakia, recording gains of over 20%, according to the analysis.

In Germany, quarter-hour arbitrage was 16% more profitable than hourly arbitrage, while in Lithuania, the improvement was 14%.

The new system brings the greatest benefits in countries with less flexibility

The new trading intervals, known as 15-minute Market Time Units (MTUs), bring the greatest benefits in countries with less flexibility in power generation and consumption, where a high share of intermittent renewables can cause large price swings, according to Sepehr Soltani, senior analyst for energy storage at Rystad.

Rystad estimates that if a battery earns around 20% more each year due to these price swings, its total return on investment can increase by about 3% over 20 years.

A 20% annual profit gain could raise return on investment by 3% over 20 years

In contrast, in places with a flexible electricity supply, such as Norway with hydropower and Portugal with hydropower and gas, prices are more stable over an hour, so the difference between profits from 15-minute and hourly trading is much smaller, he explained.

This is why in Portugal, Norway, and Sweden, the new system has brought only minor improvements in BESS profitability potential.

Rystad noted, however, that today’s unusually high arbitrage margins, of over USD 150 per MWh, are not expected to persist over the next 10–20 years. A more realistic long-term average is around USD 60 per MWh, according to the analysis.

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December 16, 2025
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Greek authorities launch electricity market probe

The Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) and the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY or RAEWW) began a double probe into the Greek electricity market.

The move follows a report by the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) concerning the formation of wholesale prices during the period between July and September 2024.

The body focused on Greece, since it is the only country in the region of Southeast Europe for which detailed market data was available from the power exchange about the offers from producers and the supply-demand curves.

ACER has called national authorities to conduct a market probe to find out whether manipulation and capacity withholding took place during the hours with the most extreme prices.

In its announcement, HCC said it was looking into possible horizontal deals or harmonized practices between companies, with the goal of preventing, limiting or degrading competition. It is focusing especially on capacity withholding and dominant market position abuse. It explained, however, that the checks do not predetermine the outcome of the procedure.

RAAEY pointed out that the goal of its probe is to protect consumers and enforce the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT).

Investigation follows industry suggestions

According to Energypress, HCC conducted raids and collected data from three particular companies, namely Public Power Corporation (PPC), Heron and Enerwave (formerly Elpedison).

In fact, authorities are examining not just the three-month period of last year, but also market operations in 2025.

Industrial consumers in Greece have been claiming for the past year that there is manipulation in the market, leading to inflated prices. They have called for an investigation and interventions to restore transparency.

“ACER‘s findings are not compatible with normal market player behavior as part of the Target Model,” commented the Chairman of the Hellenic Union of Industrial Consumers of Energy (UNICEN), Antonis Kontoleon.

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September 26, 2025
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Greece mulls subsidizing green energy as loan to energy-intensive industry

The Greek government intends to support energy-intensive industries through a new mechanism involving renewable energy.

In recent days, discussions took place between the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and the ministries of environment and energy, finance, and development. The employers’ organization presented a so-called Italian plan. It is based on Italy’s Energy Release 2.0 scheme.

The assistance would be provided in the form of a green energy loan. Around 400 industrial consumers would benefit from lower power prices, at EUR 60 per MWh, for three years. In return, they would be obliged to invest in renewable energy and return twice as much cheap electricity within a period of 20 years.

Based on the proposal, the industries are expected to add about 1.75 GW, of which 80% in photovoltaics and 20% in wind power capacity. The estimated amount of low-cost electricity that they would be entitled to is 10 TWh, and the cost of the scheme is seen at EUR 285 million per year for three years.

Brussels approval critical

SEV expressed the belief that the European Commission would easily accept the plan, after Italy got partial approval. However, another industry association, the Hellenic Union of Industrial Consumers of Energy (UNICEN), warned that the other country’s scheme has not yet formally obtained a green light from the administration in Brussels.

Namely, the EU sent a letter to the Italian authorities, listing the changes they needed to make. According to UNICEN, the Greek model would be approved if it follows the proposed revised version.

The ministers consider SEV’s proposal acceptable, but they said they needed to figure out the financing details. Other mechanisms are not yet off the table. Importantly, they cannot include direct state support because of restrictions set by European competition law. It stipulates that a government cannot simply provide money to a sector unless the scheme implies investments, such as in green energy.

“We are interested in a fair intervention with a holistic view, in order to focus on the most heavily affected businesses. Also, the scheme should not cause fiscal problems,” Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis stated.

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August 4, 2025
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US electricity prices soar 40% in H1 2025, outpacing EU’s 30% increase

In the first half of 2025, wholesale electricity prices in the European Union were about 30% higher than in same period of 2024, while a 40% increase was recorded in the United States. The penetration of negative prices in the EU continues, with their share doubling in H1 2025, according to the latest report of the International Energy Agency.

Wholesale electricity prices in the EU averaged around USD 90 per MWh as costs were mostly underpinned by natural gas prices, which were on average about 20% above the levels from 2024, IEA’s Electricity Mid-Year Update 2025 reads.

Prices saw upward pressure from a boost in fossil-fired generation due to a year-on-year drop in electricity generation from wind and hydropower.

While average power prices remained below the 2023 levels, they were higher than in 2019, according to IEA. The latter is a reference year because it was the last one before turbulences started – the COVID-19 pandemic, energy crisis, and the war in Ukraine.

Electricity prices in the Nordics remained the lowest in Europe

Latest futures prices in the EU average USD 80 per MWh for 2026, indicating a decline of around 15% from 2025, the report underlines.

High gas prices also affected the electricity market in the US, combined with colder weather. Power prices averaged around USD 48 per MWh. However, the increase was from a low base, as prices in the first half of 2024 were the lowest for the first half of the year since 2020, the report notes.

Average electricity prices in the Nordics remained the lowest in Europe, falling by more than 20% year-over-year in the first six months of 2025 to about USD 40 per MWh. It was the result of an increase in wind power generation and higher hydropower output, according to the report.

The update brings details on Germany, France, Japan, India, Australia, and the United Kingdom as well.

Occurence of negative prices doubled

IEA notes that the frequency of negative wholesale prices is increasing in various markets, underscoring the need for greater flexibility in supply and demand. The authors of the report propose appropriate regulatory frameworks and market designs to boost greater demand response and energy storage.

The share of hours with negative prices on the wholesale market reached 8% to 9% in the first half of the year in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain – up from between 4% and 5% in 2024, the report reads.

The average price this year in the EU is expected to be twice as high as in the US and about 50% higher than in China

Electricity prices for energy-intensive industries continued to vary significantly across regions. After declining since their 2022 peak, they are expected to rise year-on-year in 2025 in the EU, driven by higher wholesale price levels.

The average price this year in the EU is expected to be twice as high as in the US and about 50% higher than in China, according to IEA projections. By comparison, in 2019, prices in the EU were approximately 50% higher than in the United States and 20% higher than in China.

The cost differences continue to pose challenges for the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries in the EU, IEA stressed.

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June 12, 2025
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Brussels to Croatia: Boost renewables, flexibility for cheaper industrial electricity

The European Commission advised Croatia to speed up the installation of renewable energy capacities and add non-fossil flexibility solutions, to reduce electricity prices for businesses.

Electricity prices for the corporate sector in Croatia in the first half of 2024 were the third-highest in the European Union, according to the European Commission.

At about EUR 0.244 per kWh, only Cyprus and Ireland had higher prices – EUR 0.2578 per kWh and EUR 0.256 per kWh, respectively.

“In the first half of 2024, Croatia had the third-highest electricity price in the EU for business/industrial consumers. This continues to hold back the cost competitiveness of Croatian companies,” the commission said in its Country Specific Recommendations under the 2025 European Semester: Spring Package.

Despite a record increase in solar capacity in 2024, by 397 MW, its share in electricity generation remains low, at less than 6%.

An increase in the uptake of large-scale renewables, including solar, is hampered by an uncertain regulatory framework

Against this background, faster roll-out of new renewable energy capacity, especially solar, and non-fossil flexibility solutions could help reduce price levels, the update reads.

The commission said an increase in the uptake of large-scale renewables, including solar, is hampered by an uncertain regulatory framework as the national energy regulator HERA is yet to adopt updated grid connection fees. The situation creates uncertainty for potential investors and has effectively prevented projects from securing financing, the European Union’s executive arm stressed.

Increased investment in the electricity grid, beyond what’s in Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), would be crucial for an uptake of renewable energy, according to the commission. In the short term, it would imply incentives for hybrid storage and renewable energy projects, the document reads.

Speed up rollout of smart meters

In 2023, only 24% of household consumers had smart meters installed, which is significantly less than the EU target of 80%.

To be able to fully capitalize on an increased uptake of renewable energy, significant funding for the rollout of smart meters – beyond the measures in the NRRP – and dynamic contracts will be needed to empower consumers and foster demand response, the commission noted.

It advised Croatia to review and simplify administrative procedures for installing renewable energy facilities, including in multi-apartment buildings, and for setting up energy communities.

The measures would help reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and increase the low number of registered energy communities, according to the commission.

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May 8, 2025
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Electricity prices for Slovenian firms among highest in EU in 2024

Last year, Slovenian households had cheaper electricity than the European Union average while the tariffs for other categories of consumers, including businesses, were among the highest in the EU, according to an analysis by Slovenia’s transmission system operator ELES.

The analysis, conducted by ELES CEO Aleksander Mervar, also showed network fees are significantly lower than the EU’s average.

Slovenia is in the bottom third of the list of the 27 member countries. As for its neighbors, domestic prices were higher than in Hungary and Croatia, and lower than in Austria and Italy, Naš Stik reported.

Last year, Bulgaria had the lowest prices in the EU, followed by Malta, Luxembourg, Hungary, and Croatia. When measured against purchasing power, prices in Slovenia are in the lower half of the list.

The Government of Slovenia has capped electricity prices for households

The analysis attributes the lower tariffs for households mainly to measures that the Government of Slovenia introduced. The two main interventions were setting a maximum price for 90% of consumption, and freezing the payment of a fee for subsidizing electricity production from renewables and high-efficiency cogeneration.

From January 1 to October 31, the maximum price was 8.2 eurocents per kWh in the lower tariff and 11.8 eurocents per kWh in the higher one. They were the maximum prices for 90% of consumption, while the remainder was set by suppliers in line with the market conditions.

Without government measures, the annual bill of the average Slovenian household, with an annual consumption of 4,000 kWh, would be higher by EUR 345.89 or 45.77%, according to the calculation.

ELES denies network fees impacted competitiveness of firms

The conditions for businesses were different. Prices for commercial and industrial consumers were among the highest in the EU. However, the domestic average was lower than in neighboring countries.

Businesses in Serbia experienced a similar issue last year.

ELES denied the claim by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia that high network fees lowered corporate competitiveness. The company argued they were significantly lower for commercial consumers, by 36.5% to 49%, than the EU average.

In addition, network fees are as much as 53% below the level in the countries surrounding Slovenia, according to the ELES analysis.

Network fees for households in Slovenia are among the lowest in the EU.

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