Coal phase-out sparks Warsaw alarm over heating costs

24 June 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

The government plans to phase out coal by 2040, promising ‘acceptable prices’ amid rising Poland heating bills. Read what expats should know.

The government published a strategy to phase out coal in district heating by 2040, and it promised “acceptable prices”. Consequently the plan lands while Poland heating bills already surge this winter.

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Poland heating bills: what the government announced

The cabinet released draft assumptions for a Heat Transition Strategy this Tuesday. Moreover Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka leads the plan. The strategy aims to cut CO2 from the heating sector. In addition it seeks low and zero‑emission heat sources. However the document remains a framework, not a law. Therefore lawmakers must write details and price‑protection tools in coming months.

Why Warsaw residents already fear the post

Residents opened alarming heating invoices this season. Veolia Energy Warsaw raised only the distributor fee slightly. However producers of heat raised their charges far more. Consequently producers now account for 78 percent of the final bill. In addition Veolia reports that its fee rose by 303.76 zł for a typical 50 m² flat between 2019 and 2026. Moreover heat producers pushed their part up by 1,842.23 zł net in the same years. Therefore many Warsaw bills jumped sharply this season. Experts estimate system heat and gas costs rose 25 to 30 percent. In some housing cooperatives advance payments increased by about 50 percent.

Policy, ETS2 and the heating voucher

The government ended a price cap that limited increases to 40 percent from September 2022. Consequently markets priced in the future EU ETS2 scheme for buildings. Moreover ETS2 could raise costs for emitters of heating. The state offers a heating bonus for late 2025. However the bonus requires two conditions. First income must not exceed 3,272.69 zł for a single person. Second the system heat price must be below 170 zł per GJ. Therefore many urban households miss the aid. In addition pricing can differ inside the same block depending on the heat node. Consequently neighbours with identical incomes may get different answers on the voucher.

What expats should check this winter

Check your bill to see distributor versus producer charges. Moreover ask your building manager which heat node serves your stairwell. In addition compare your household income to voucher thresholds. Therefore apply if you qualify. Check your local city or gmina office for application details. Also consider basic energy efficiency measures. For example insulate, seal windows and adjust thermostatic valves. However deep retrofit takes time and funds. Consequently track the government’s legislative steps on the strategy.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you are an expat, understand Polish benefits and IDs. For example ZUS is social security, NFZ runs public health insurance, and PESEL is your national ID number. Moreover the heating voucher (bon ciepłowniczy) depends on income per household and the gigajoule price at your local heat node. Therefore ask your building manager about the node and file an application at your municipal office if eligible.

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