Monitoring of Energy Legislation January 2026

See the most important news in the field of Slovak energy legislation for the month of January 2026.

The Government has approved another amendment to the regulation on targeted energy assistance, as well as an amendment concerning the maximum prices of electricity, gas and heat for 2026. The amendments focus primarily on the heat sector.

RONI has expressed its support for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and has at the same time alerted producers benefiting from extended support schemes to the necessity of investing in their generation facilities. RONI has also published a methodology outlining how producers are required to substantiate and document such investment costs.

OKTE has announced the 24th auction of guarantees of origin for electricity and has launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to its Operation Order. SEPS is likewise planning amendments to its Operational Rules.

Read more about these and many other interesting news in our monitoring for the month of January 2026, which you can also download in PDF format.

We wish you a pleasant reading!

1. WHAT HAS CHANGED?

Note: In our monitoring of energy legislation, we monitor for you the changes to the above-mentioned legal regulations, which were published in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic last month. 

2. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED

2.1   APPROVED LEGISLATION IN THE ENERGY SECTOR

■      Fourth Amendment to the Regulation on Targeted Energy Assistance 

14 January 2026 – The Government of the Slovak Republic adopted an amendment to Government Regulation No. 353/2025 Coll. on targeted energy assistance (Amendment No. 4/2026 Coll.), effective as of 16 January 2026. This round of changes primarily focuses on heat supply in apartment buildings and responds to practical issues identified in the delivery of energy vouchers and in the assessment of households’ eligibility.

The amendment expands the range of households eligible for assistance. A heat supply point now also includes apartments disconnected from the central heating system, provided that they derive indirect benefit from heat and contribute to the fixed component of heating costs. The identification of heat supply points is simplified through the use of the building registration number. Where direct delivery of an energy voucher to a household is not feasible, the amendment allows delivery through the property owner to ensure that assistance is not forfeited due to technical reasons.

The amendment also specifically adjusts the level of assistance for heat. Households in disconnected apartments benefiting indirectly from heat will receive 25% of the value of the energy voucher. The rules for one-off assistance are further clarified: where the amount does not exceed 20 EUR, assistance will be provided via postal money order; if the annual value of assistance does not reach 5 EUR, no energy voucher will be issued. The amendment also introduces transitional provisions for 2026, under which compliance with eligibility conditions for selected households will be assessed by 31 January 2026.

The full wording of the amendment to the Regulation is available HERE. (Available only in the Slovak language version)

■      Third Amendment to the Government Regulation on Regulated Energy Prices for 2026 

9 January 2026 – The Government of the Slovak Republic adopted an amendment to Government Regulation No. 359/2025 Coll., which expands and clarifies the application of maximum energy prices for 2026. The amendment is effective as of 15 January 2026 and aims to protect additional categories of heat consumers who are not eligible for targeted energy assistance from disproportionate price increases.

Under the amendment, the maximum price for regulated heat supply will also apply to selected residential buildings, in particular apartment buildings owned by municipalities, higher territorial units and their established organisations, apartment buildings within the state-supported rental housing scheme, as well as certain specific residential buildings and apartment buildings owned by the State or state-owned companies. At the same time, the continuation of price caps for selected vulnerable electricity and gas consumers is confirmed.

For these groups, the maximum heat price for 2026 is linked to a cap on the permitted increase in heat prices. This means that, even in the absence of targeted energy assistance, unlimited price increases will not be allowed. The amendment also includes a transitional provision stipulating that the new rules will apply to the entire calendar year 2026, thereby preventing uncertainties in heat billing.

The full wording of the amendment to the Regulation is available HERE. (Available only in the Slovak language version.)

2.2   REGULATORY OFFICE FOR NETWORK INDUSTRIES (RONI)

■      RONI supports PPA Contracts

26 January 2026 – RONI emphasised its support for long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) as a key instrument for the sustainable development of renewable energy sources in Slovakia.

PPAs are contracts concluded between an electricity producer and an off-taker, setting a fixed price and supply conditions for electricity for a period typically ranging from 5 to 20 years. Such long-term arrangements provide certainty for both parties – producers benefit from a stable outlet for their electricity, while consumers gain price predictability and protection against market volatility.

In this context, the Chairman of RONI stated that PPA contracts represent an efficient mechanism to support domestic renewable energy producers and may also assist strategic consumers, including industrial undertakings such as SLOVALCO, in maintaining their competitiveness. RONI further stressed that Slovakia has specific conditions and significant potential for utilising its domestic renewable energy resources, and therefore supports the conclusion of PPA agreements not only for solar and wind projects, but also for other types of renewable energy sources.

The regulatory authority remains ready to continue dialogue with industry stakeholders, producers and legislators in order to foster a stable and predictable framework for long-term energy solutions.

The topic of PPA agreements and what not to overlook when concluding them is available in our article. (Available only in the Slovak language version) 

More details are available in the full article on the website HERE. (Available only in the Slovak language version)

■      RONI: RES Producers in prolongation warned of risk of repayment of funds 

23 January 2026 – RONI published a notice addressed to electricity producers from renewable energy sources (RES) benefiting from extended support (“prolongation”). The regulator emphasises that producers who opted to enter the extended support period and whose electricity price was consequently reduced were required to use the granted financial resources for investments in their facilities, within the prescribed scope, in a timely and demonstrable manner.

RONI has also published detailed guidance on how producers must substantiate the actually incurred investment costs related to necessary repairs or modifications of the technological part of their installations during the extended support period:

1.  Expert opinion (valuation report): The actually incurred and economically justified costs must be documented by an expert report pursuant to Section 45(5) of RONI Decree No. 154/2024 Coll., assessing the costs in EUR.

2.  Investment deadline: The costs must be incurred no later than within the first five years following entry into the extended support period (typically from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2026).

3.  Qualified expert: The report must be prepared by an expert registered in the official list of experts in the field of Electrical Engineering and Energy pursuant to Act No. 382/2004 Coll.

According to RONI, the expert report must include:

• Determination of the actually incurred costs and their expression as a percentage ratio relative to the costs proposed in the price decision;
• Assessment of the economic justification of these costs in accordance with applicable legislation;
• The date of completion of works related to the repair or modification of the technological part of the installation.

If the percentage of actually incurred costs reaches 100% or more, RONI will issue a confirmation that the conditions have been fulfilled. If producers fail to demonstrate investments in the full required amount, the authority will determine, based on inspection findings, the amount to be repaid to the support settlement entity. Any non-invested portion must be reimbursed in full.

More details are available in the full article on the website HERE. (Available only in the Slovak language version)

The basic information about the prolongation can be found in our earlier article. (Available only in the Slovak language version). How the prolongation of RES support was adopted and what it means, we also analysed in our next earlier article. (Available in English language version)

Basic information on the prolongation can also be found in our earlier article.

■      RONI considering introduction of the Water-Sector Regulatory Model in district Heating

19 January 2026 – RONI has initiated an expert discussion on the possible extension of the so-called water-sector regulatory model to the district heating sector. The proposal draws inspiration from the long-standing regulatory approach applied in the water management sector, where a clear separation between fixed and variable price components is implemented. According to RONI, such a structure could enhance transparency and simplify annual billing in the heat sector.

In practice, the fixed component would cover genuinely non-variable costs (e.g. personnel expenses and a reasonable profit margin), while the variable component would reflect fluctuating costs such as fuel purchases or repairs. The objective is to create a more predictable and transparent pricing framework for heat supply.

More details are available in the full article on the website HERE. (Available only in the Slovak language version)

2.3   MINISTRY OF ECONOMY OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC (MoE SR)

■      MoE SR: New Agreement with the United States opens access to nuclear energy know-how for Slovakia

16 January 2026 – The Slovak Republic signed an intergovernmental agreement with the United States on cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy. The agreement provides Slovakia with access to advanced U.S. know-how, technologies, research and education in the nuclear sector.

The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for long-term cooperation and aims to strengthen professional capacities in the areas of nuclear safety, the nuclear fuel cycle and the development of nuclear technologies.

More details are available in the full announcement HERE. (Available only in the Slovak language version)

■      MoE SR: Distribution of energy vouchers for households connected to District Heating begins

7 January 2026 – MoE SR has launched the process of generating and distributing energy vouchers intended to partially compensate increased prices of heat and hot water supplied through district heating systems ("CZT" in Slovak what means – centralised heat supply). The assistance is targeted and granted automatically to households meeting the eligibility criteria, without the need to submit an application.

Distribution of the vouchers is ensured by Slovenská pošta (The Slovak post office) and will take place gradually over the course of several weeks. The value of the first voucher corresponds to one quarter of the annual compensation for the initial months of 2026. Its amount depends on the apartment’s floor area and the price zone of the respective heat supplier. Additional vouchers are expected following a reassessment of eligibility in April 2026.

More details are available in the full announcement HERE. (Available only in the Slovak language version)

2.4   SHORT-TERM ELECTRICITY MARKET OPERATOR (OKTE)

■      OKTE announces 24th auction of Guarantees of Origin for Electricity

22 January 2026 – OKTE published information on the twenty-fourth electronic auction of guarantees of origin for electricity generated from renewable energy sources (RES) and from high-efficiency cogeneration. The auction was intended for entities registered in the OKTE information system that have concluded the relevant agreement on the issuance and use of guarantees of origin, including the auction addendum.

The auction took place on 5 February 2026 in the form of electronic bid submission within a specified time window. The subject of the auction consisted of guarantees of origin linked to electricity generated in supported installations in accordance with the applicable legislation. 

Detailed information on participation conditions, the auction procedure and the offered volumes is available on OKTE’s website. (Available in English language version)

■      OKTE: launch of public consultation on amendments to the OKTE Operation Order

14 January 2026 – OKTE announced the launch of a public consultation on proposed amendments to its Operation Order, affecting several key areas of market operation.

The proposed changes include in particular:

• the discontinuation of organising auctions for guarantees of origin in cases of electricity generated by installations that have received support in the form of feed-in premiums or surcharges, or investment aid granted outside a competitive procedure, to the extent of the intensity of such aid pursuant to the Act on RES and High-Efficiency Cogeneration;
• the regulation of invoicing and billing data exclusively within the OKTE Operation Order, rather than through separate contractual arrangements;
• amendments to the conditions for electricity sharing, including the introduction of a maximum installed capacity limit of 6 MW for the generation facility of an active customer (unless the entity qualifies as an SME) from which electricity is to be shared;
• adjustments to certain technical data set out in the annexes to the Operation Order.

The deadline for submitting comments was 28 January 2026. The proposed amendments were published in tracked-change mode compared to the current version of the Operation Order. (Available only in the Slovak language version)

During the public consultation, three comments were submitted, of which one was accepted. The text of the comments together with OKTE’s responses is publicly available HERE, as well as the updated version of the Operation Order reflecting the accepted amendment HERE.

Further details are available HERE. (Available in English language version)

2.5   SLOVAK ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM (SEPS) 

■      SEPS: Public consultation on amendments to the Operational Rules 

13 January 2026 – SEPS launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Operational Rules (PPS). The objective is to update the rules governing operation of and connection to the transmission system, reflect technological and market developments, and refine existing regulatory practice.

The proposed amendments primarily concern flexible connection arrangements, more efficient utilisation of connection capacity, adjustments to contractual procedures, clarification of sanction mechanisms and updates to standardised forms. The proposal also includes additional information regarding planned capacity auctions. The public consultation took place from 14 to 27 January 2026.

Further details are available HERE. (Available only in the Slovak language version)

You can download the monitoring for the month of January 2026 in PDF format here.

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Legal notice

The information provided to the subscriber as part of the monitoring of energy legislation is not a source of legally binding legislation, as only the collection of laws of the Slovak Republic contains the legally binding wording of the legislation in terms of the legal code of the Slovak Republic. The information provided to the subscriber is only informative and does not replace legal service pursuant to the Act no. 586/2003 Coll. on advocacy. The law firm POLÁČEK & PARTNERS s.r.o. is not responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided in the energy legislation monitoring. In case of questions regarding the information provided to the subscriber, the subscriber can ask the law firm POLÁČEK & PARTNERS s.r.o. for the provision of legal services for this purpose.