Monitoring of Energy Legislation May 2025

See the most important legal news in the field of energy for the month of May 2025.

A government´s draft act bill amending or supplementing key energy regulations (i.e., the Energy Act, the Regulation Act, the Renewable Energy Support Act, and others) has been submitted to the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

A selection procedure has been announced to choose a Supplier of Last Resort (DPI) for electricity supply. The Regulatory Office for Network Industries (RONI) has published an updated model operational code for local distribution network operators and approved an amendment to the operational code of SEPS.

SEPS plans to increase connection capacities to the transmission grid for consumption by regional distribution system operators by 25%.

Read more about these and many other interesting news in our monitoring for the month of May 2025, 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. In the month of May 2025, no change to any of the afore mentioned legal regulations was published in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic.

2.          YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED

■     Draft act amending the Energy Act and other related laws

On May 9, 2025, the Government submitted to the National Council of the Slovak Republic a draft bill proposing amendments to Act No. 251/2012 Coll. on Energy and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended (the "Energy Act"), along with amendments to several other laws. These include: Act No. 250/2012 Coll. on Regulation in Network Industries (the "Regulation Act"), Act No. 309/2009 Coll. on the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources and High-Efficiency Cogeneration and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts (the "RES Support Act"), Act No. 657/2004 Coll. on Heat Energy (the "Heat Act"), Act No. 391/2015 Coll. on Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts (the "ADR Act"), Act No. 51/1988 Coll. on Mining Activities, Explosives, and the State Mining Administration (the "Mining Act"), and Act No. 71/2013 Coll. on the Provision of Subsidies within the Competence of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic. The main reason for these amendments is the transposition of European Union legislation regarding the revision of the current internal electricity market framework, support for renewable energy, the internal market for natural gas, renewable gases and hydrogen, and methane emissions control (Document No. LP/2025/96).

The draft law primarily aims to transpose and implement the requirements related to the reform of the internal electricity market design, as set out mainly in Regulation (EU) 2024/1747 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on improving the design of the electricity market (hereinafter “Regulation (EU) 2024/1747”) and Directive (EU) 2024/1711 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on improving the design of the electricity market in the Union (hereinafter “Directive (EU) 2024/1711”).

Trends in the redesign of the internal electricity market include, among others, the effective achievement of the Energy Union’s objectives and the goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, as well as the integration of new system elements and market participants.

Another legislative act partially addressed by this transposition into Slovak law is Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023. The proposed draft law also partially transposes Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on common rules for internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, amending Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and repealing Directive 2009/73/EC.

The submitted draft amendment to the Energy Act introduces, among other things, the following changes:

• Legal regulation of electricity market participants,
• Legal framework for flexible connection agreements to support the development of renewable energy sources in areas with limited or no grid connection capacity,
• Legal regulation of electricity supply contracts or bundled electricity supply contracts with fixed prices for a definite period, along with related changes in consumer protection,
• Extension of obligations for distribution system operators to publish on their websites data on the number of accepted and rejected connection requests, available distribution capacity and its calculation, information on capacity reservation conditions, application procedures for connection to the distribution system, and submission requirements for electronic documentation,
• Legal framework for risk management of electricity suppliers,
• Legal regulation of support through a contract-for-difference scheme for electricity production from nuclear fuel,
• Legal framework for assessing the flexibility needs of the electricity system
• Legal provisions on administrative offences and penalties related to methane emissions.

The draft law further:

• Regulates the already existing activity of electricity sharing by consumers, which has so far been governed primarily by secondary legislation in Slovakia; however, the revised Directive (EU) 2024/1711 provides more detailed rules on sharing than the original Directive (EU) 2019/944.
• Introduces a new market activity: the electricity sharing coordinator, which has not previously been covered by any existing business activity in the energy sector. This role will be subject to a notification regime, and its aim is to support the development of electricity sharing among consumers and simplify administrative and related procedures.
• Grants final consumers the right to participate in electricity sharing on a non-discriminatory basis so that no end-users are excluded from participation.
• Prohibits suppliers from making the conclusion of electricity supply contracts or bundled supply contracts conditional on a ban or limitation on the amount of electricity that may be shared.
• Establishes that a single delivery or take-off point may only be assigned to one sharing group at a time, and protects active consumers from unfair or discriminatory treatment by balancing entities contractually responsible for supply or consumption deviations by explicitly allowing delivery and take-off points in one sharing group to be part of different balancing groups, in line with the directive’s requirements.
• Specifies that other active consumers in the business sector, beyond small and medium-sized enterprises, may also participate in electricity sharing, but only from generation facilities with an installed capacity of up to 6 MW.
• Introduces the possibility of direct support for electricity generation from nuclear fuel after July 2027 in the form of a contract-for-difference scheme for electricity generated from nuclear sources.

The Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as “Ministry of Economy“) is submitting the draft amendment to the Energy Act also due to the partial transposition of the so-called 4th Energy Package in the gas sector, which mainly focuses on regulating the certification of the hydrogen transmission network operator and adjusting the rules for the functioning of the internal hydrogen market.

The submitted draft amendment to the Act on Regulation introduces, among other things, the following key changes:

• Extension of the existing powers of the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (hereinafter referred to as "RONI") in connection with the above-mentioned changes to the Energy Act and the requirements of Directive (EU) 2024/1711,
• Expansion of RONI’s current monitoring powers regarding the application of electricity supply contracts and bundled supply contracts with fixed prices for a definite period, as well as monitoring the removal of unjustified barriers to electricity sharing,
• Legal regulation related to the introduction of a peak-time consumption reduction product,
• Supplementation of provisions in case of an electricity price crisis declared at the EU or regional level.

The submitted draft amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Promotion Act introduces in particular the following changes:

• Legal regulation of the principle of so-called cascading use of woody biomass based on the highest economic and environmental added value,
• Legal framework for setting up support in the form of a contract-for-difference scheme for electricity generation from selected renewable sources,
• Legal regulation introducing a system of credits issued for electricity from renewable sources used in transport, including the method of issuance, registration, trading, and application of such credits,
• Legal provisions for meeting RES targets in the transport and industrial sectors,
• Legal framework for obligations related to the production of biofuels, bioliquids, and fuels from forest biomass.

The law is expected to come into force on January 1, 2026, except for points thirty-five, forty-four, and forty-five of Article III, which are proposed to take effect on September 1, 2026, and Article VII, which is proposed to come into effect on November 1, 2025.

The current legislative status, which is currently in the first reading, can be tracked at this link.

■     Draft RONI Decree, establishing the application template for obtaining a license to operate in heat energy

On May 21, 2025, advisory bodies of the Government of the Slovak Republic began deliberations on the draft decree of RONI, which establishes the template for the application to obtain a license to operate in the heat energy sector (legislative process No. LP/2025/110).

As previously reported, the aim of the draft decree is to establish a template for the application for a license to operate in heat energy and the proposal for a defined territory, in accordance with the authorization provision under § 5 (8) of Act No. 657/2004 Coll. on Heat Energy, as amended. Specifically, the templates are for:

a)     the application by a natural person–entrepreneur for a license to operate in the heat energy sector and a proposal for a designated territory,

b)     the application by a legal entity for a license to operate in the heat energy sector and a proposal for a designated territory.

As of today, the application template for obtaining a license in the heat energy sector is governed by RONI Decree No. 212/2005 Coll., which establishes the existing format.

The proposed effective date of the new decree is July 1, 2025.

The current status of the legislative process can be tracked at this link.

■     SIEA published information on the amount of requested funding under the call PSK-SIEA-008-2025-DV-EFRR – 1st evaluation round

On May 27, 2025, The Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (Slovenská inovačná a energetická agentúra, hereinafter referred to as "SIEA")  published an announcement on its website stating that, under the Slovakia Program (Program Slovensko) call aimed at supporting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources (RES) in businesses (call code PSK-SIEA-008-2025-DV-EFRR), a total of 302 applications had been submitted by May 23, 2025.

The call remains open.

In the case of Measure 2.1.1 Improving energy efficiency in enterprises and Measure 2.2.1 Supporting the use of RES in enterprises based on active electricity consumers, RES self-consumers, and RES energy-producing communities, the requested amount of non-repayable financial contribution (hereinafter “NFC”) exceeds the allocation intended for less developed regions.

However, SIEA has stated that it does not plan to close the call at this time. If applications meet all the conditions for granting the contribution but there are not enough allocated funds for approval, applicants will receive a decision rejecting the application due to insufficient funding. These applications will be placed in a project reserve list.

More detailed information is available at this link.

■     RONI draws attention to the update of the model operating rules

In a notice dated May 9, 2025, RONI informed gas distribution network operators with fewer than 100,000 end customers connected to their network about the updated model operating rules.

According to Section 19(7) of the Energy Act, if a distribution network operator (hereinafter “LDS operator”) with fewer than 100,000 end gas consumers does not submit a proposal for operating rules to RONI for approval, or if RONI does not approve the proposal, the LDS operator is required to adopt the model operating rules published on the RONI website.

Due to changes in primary and secondary energy legislation in recent periods, RONI announced that it has updated the model operating rules for LDS operators and has published the revised version.

RONI therefore calls on all LDS operators who previously adopted the original model operating rules to replace them with the updated version and publish it on their own websites.

RONI also stated that in order to reduce the administrative burden for LDS operators who wish to adopt and use the model operating rules without the need to add specific operational conditions (which would require RONI´s approval), they must send RONI a “Notification of adoption of the model operating rules” and a “Proposal to revoke the RONI decision on approval of the operating rules”. These documents will serve as a proposal to initiate proceedings on substantive regulation for revoking currently valid RONI decisions that previously approved LDS operators’ operating rules.

The updated model operating rules for LDS operators and the templates for initiating proceedings to revoke RONI decisions are published HERE.

More information on URSO’s article is available HERE.

■     RONI publishes selection criteria for the supplier of last resort

On May 21, 2025, RONI announced the launch of a selection procedure to appoint a supplier of last resort for electricity delivery within the defined territory of the Slovak Republic, and published the selection criteria.

The criteria for selecting a supplier of last resort for electricity delivery are published HERE.

RONI states that applicants may submit their applications for participation in the selection process either in written (paper) form or electronically via the application available at this link.

RONI reminds that the deadline for submitting applications is June 19, 2025 (inclusive).

RONI will then make a decision regarding the supplier of last resort within the framework of a substantive regulation procedure initiated ex officio. The supplier of last resort will be appointed for an indefinite period.

More information about RONI’s announcement is available HERE.

■     RONI warns of extreme electricity price fluctuations

On June 3, 2025, RONI published a report stating that the Slovak electricity market experienced significant price fluctuations in April and May 2025, including historically low, even negative, values.

According to RONI, the most significant price drop occurred on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, when the electricity price fell to as low as -97.58 €/MWh. Negative electricity prices recurred in May 2025, in an even more extreme form. On Sunday, May 11, 2025, RONI reported a record-low price of -202.70 €/MWh.

The chairman of RONI also commented on the issue, stating that this situation indicates increasing instability in the short-term market and the growing impact of renewable energy sources during zero-emission hours. RONI has long supported the use of renewables, he said, but emphasizes the importance of efficiency and local consumption of generated energy. When electricity is consumed directly at the site of its generation, the highest economic and environmental benefit is achieved.

In its report, RONI concluded that the market is gradually transforming due to renewable sources—from stable prices to greater volatility, especially during sunny days with energy surpluses. This trend will directly impact all market participants in the future, including large producers and end consumers.

RONI concluded that it continues to monitor developments and is taking measures to protect households from the negative effects of an unstable market.

More information about RONI’s announcement is available HERE.

■     In 2024, RONI processed 294 consumer complaints in the energy sector

On May 19, 2025, RONI announced on its website that as the consumer protector in the energy sector, it processed 294 consumer complaints in 2024 related to energy prices, billing, consumption measurement, and supplier changes.

RONI stated that an important legislative change it successfully implemented was the removal of the restriction allowing energy supplier changes only until March 31, thereby giving consumers flexibility and the ability to change suppliers freely at any time during the year. Within the complaint handling process, RONI also introduced online forms in 2024, which significantly accelerated and streamlined the resolution of consumer requests.

According to RONI, the result was a decrease of 278 consumer complaints submitted to RONI in 2024 compared to the previous year, confirming the effectiveness of the legislative changes and the success of RONI’s information campaign.

RONI also states that its priority remains continually contributing to a stable and fair energy market in Slovakia, where consumers are protected and well-informed.

You can read more about the article HERE.

■     RONI announces new circuit breaker optimization as of July 1, 2025

On May 20, 2025, RONI published information that on May 19, 2025, the fifth control meeting took place at its premises with representatives of distribution companies regarding the status of the process of optimizing oversized circuit breakers.

RONI informs that last year it ordered distribution companies to thoroughly inform consumers about the need to adjust oversized circuit breakers and to provide them with expert assistance.

RONI recommends that consumers follow the advice of distribution companies and adjust their circuit breaker rating according to their actual needs by the end of June.

RONI also emphasizes that from July 1, 2025, this will not be a new fee for circuit breakers, but an adjusted model of the previously valid calculation of the fixed component of the electricity price, which reflects the actual reserved capacity in the network. The new calculation method also takes into account the ampere rating of the circuit breaker to ensure that electricity distribution costs are fairly allocated.

The goal of the optimization is to ensure a fair system in which every consumer pays appropriately and realistically according to the capacity they actually use.

RONI explains that the main reasons for the change are:

• freeing up unused line capacity – reducing costs for building new electrical lines,
• European regulations – the obligation arises from EU legislation and RONI’s long-term strategy,
• cost savings – a lower circuit breaker rating means lower electricity distribution fees,
• nationwide measure – applies to all three regional distribution companies,
• proven practice – a similar optimization in 2017 led to significant capacity savings.

You can learn more about this report HERE.

■     SIEA and the Ministry of Economy announce that businesses in the Bratislava Self-Governing Region (BSK) can now apply for grants to install renewable energy devices in the Green for Businesses program

The Ministry of Economy and SIEA announced on their websites that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises can now submit applications for grants to install devices using renewable energy sources (RES) as part of the national project Green for Businesses.

The Green for Businesses project is implemented by SIEA under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy and is part of the support for the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy.

The Ministry of Economy stated that in the first phase of the project, businesses operating in the Bratislava Self-Governing Region (hereinafter “BSK”) can apply for support, followed by other regions, which also have their own allocated financial resources.

In the first application phase, €4.2 million is available, while the total allocation for the Green for Businesses project is €66.56 million. The maximum eligible expenses that can be reimbursed to applicants are set according to current special conditions. For example, for solar collectors with accumulation, it is €1,000 per installed kilowatt excluding VAT. For heat pumps without accumulation, it is €800/kW and with accumulation €850/kW.

The information system on the website www.zelenapodnikom.sk is already accessible for registration of interested parties.

On June 2, 2025, SIEA published on its website that it is already accepting the first applications for grants for the installation of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines from companies in BSK. Applications from less developed regions will be accepted in the next phase of the project, which will launch approximately in the second half of June 2025.

SIEA reminds that companies interested in obtaining a grant of up to €50,000 must submit the application for voucher issuance through the information system. The basic condition is that they belong to the category of micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises and conduct economic activity, without operating in excluded sectors of the economy. Applicants must also have prepared a purpose-specific energy audit, for which they can also receive support up to €2,500.

SIEA also stated that entrepreneurs can apply for a grant for both types of electricity-generating devices in one application. However, if an applicant wants to obtain support for photovoltaics as well as for heat pumps or solar collectors, they must do so through two separate applications because, according to the general project conditions, an application cannot include a combination of devices for heat/cold production and electricity production.

You can learn more on this topic at this link and also HERE.

■     The Ministry of Economy announces the launch of a public tender for concessions to build ultra-fast charging stations

On May 7, 2025, the Ministry of Economy announced that the state-owned company MH Invest, s.r.o., wholly owned by the Ministry of Economy, has launched a public tender to select concessionaires for the construction and operation of a network of ultra-fast charging stations for electric vehicles.

According to the Ministry of Economy, this is a significant step toward developing a modern and accessible charging infrastructure in Slovakia, aimed at supporting the transition to greener and more sustainable transport.

Regarding the project itself, the plan is to build 35 charging parks with a total of 251 charging points, of which 219 will be for passenger and light commercial vehicles, and 32 for heavy commercial vehicles. These will be strategically located along the main highway connecting western and eastern Slovakia.

The tender is announced for a period of 16 years, during which the concessionaires will be responsible for financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the individual stations.

The Ministry of Economy emphasized that each charging point must meet high technical standards, with a minimum power of 300 kW for passenger vehicles and 400 kW for heavy electric vehicles. The stations must also allow ad hoc charging without the need for registration or contract signing and support commonly used forms of electronic payment. This will ensure comfortable and hassle-free use of charging services for both domestic and foreign drivers.

The Ministry of Economy stated that interested parties can submit their offers electronically via the IS EVO information system until June 11, 2025.

The announcement of the winners of the public tender is expected before the end of 2025.

More on this topic can be found at this link.

■     MH SR takes steps to ensure sufficient gas supply for the upcoming winter

On May 21, 2025, the Ministry of Economy published a report on its website stating that the Slovak government has approved, upon the proposal of the Ministry of Economy, a measure of general economic interest that will ensure sufficient gas reserves in underground storage facilities in Slovakia ahead of the 2025/2026 heating season.

According to the Ministry of Economy, the goal of this step is to strengthen the country's energy security and ensure the uninterrupted supply of gas to Slovak consumers, particularly due to the high share of natural gas used for household heating.

The state-owned company Slovenský plynárenský priemysel, a.s. (SPP) will be required to secure the storage of the necessary amount of natural gas in underground facilities before the start of the heating season. The aim is to reduce the risk of supply disruptions during the upcoming 2025/2026 winter season, which could have serious consequences for both households and businesses, and to ensure continuous gas delivery even in unpredictable situations.

According to the Ministry of Economy, the approved proposal also aligns with the broader EU strategy for energy security. In line with EU Regulation 2017/1938, which obliges member states to maintain adequate gas reserves, Slovakia will enhance its ability to respond to potential gas supply disruptions.

The Ministry of Economy press release is available at this link.

■     Thanks to nuclear energy, Slovakia has the lowest carbon footprint in the region

On April 17, 2025, RONI published preliminary results of the national residual mixes for 2024 on its website, confirming a significant reduction in Slovakia’s carbon footprint.

According to RONI, Slovakia has achieved its historically lowest carbon footprint in energy production, primarily due to the high share of nuclear energy, which is recognized by the EU as an environmentally friendly source.

The carbon footprint assessment includes CO₂ emissions from producers, consumers, and an untraceable residual impact. RONI states that Slovakia significantly reduced its carbon footprint in all areas compared to the previous year (2024 vs. 2023), placing it among the leading interconnected countries in the region. These results are particularly important for large enterprises (with more than 500 employees), which are required under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to report reductions in their individual carbon footprints.

Final values will be published in July 2025 after comments from the organizer of the short-term electricity market (Organizátor krátkodobého trhu s elektrinou - OKTE, a.s., hereinafter referred to as "OKTE").

More information on this topic is available at this link.

■     OKTE published the national energy mix for 2024

OKTE announced on 31 May 2025 that it had published the final national energy mix on its website in accordance with § 37(6)(o) of the Energy Act.
OKTE states that the national energy mix serves as the basis for electricity suppliers to determine their own energy mix (i.e. the share of different electricity sources in supply) for the portion of electricity not backed by guarantees of origin, in accordance with relevant regulations.
The national energy mix for 2024, compiled from data available as of 31 March 2025, is available HERE.

Further information from OKTE is available HERE.

Further information from The Environmental Fund (Envirofond, hereinafter referred to as the “Envirofond”) is available HERE.

■     OKTE introduces new enhancement to the SANDBOX-ISOT environment

In an announcement dated 2 May 2025, OKTE introduced a new enhancement to the SANDBOX-ISOT environment, aimed at helping market participants more effectively test their solutions for the intraday continuous electricity market.
OKTE stated that in order to improve user experience and allow for realistic market condition simulations, it implemented a “robot” into the SANDBOX-ISOT platform. This robot simulates market liquidity by creating counter-orders, ensuring the necessary interaction for testing trading strategies and technical solutions.

According to OKTE, the main benefits of this enhancement are:

• The ability to fully test proprietary trading solutions with greater accuracy
• Simulation of real market conditions
• Increased efficiency and quality of testing

The SANDBOX-ISOT test environment thus offers a risk-free opportunity to prepare for real market conditions.

More information is available at this link.

■     OKTE announces change to the launch date of the 15‘MTU project

On 30 April 2025, OKTE published a notice about the upcoming launch of the 15-minute trading time unit (MTU) implementation project, originally scheduled by NEMOs and TSOs for 11 June 2025.

However, on 14 May 2025, OKTE announced that the originally planned launch date has been postponed to 30 September 2025, with the first trading day set for 1 October 2025.

OKTE considers the introduction of the 15-minute MTU an important step toward improving the efficiency and flexibility of the short-term electricity market. To ensure these benefits reach market participants as soon as possible, OKTE is actively engaging in close cooperation with all project stakeholders throughout every phase. These efforts will continue in the coming months to ensure a successful rollout on the new date.

OKTE also stated that it will continue testing and maintain close cooperation with project partners and market participants to ensure a smooth transition to the 15-minute MTU. It encourages market participants to actively engage in ongoing testing activities and prepare for the new trading regime.

More details are available at this link.

■     VSE and ZSE to merge into a single energy supplier

On 29 May 2025, The Východoslovenská energetika a.s. (VSE) published an announcement on its website regarding its planned merger with its sister company ZSE Energia, a.s. (ZSE).

According to VSE, the merger of the two energy suppliers aims to maintain their leading market position by forming a single stable, innovative, and customer-focused company.

The merger has already been approved by the respective governing bodies and shareholders of both companies. It is set to take effect upon registration in the Slovak Commercial Register, with the expected registration date being 1 July 2025. The successor company will operate under the name Energetika Slovensko, a.s.

VSE emphasized that the merger will have no impact on customers or business partners of either ZSE or VSE. All rights and obligations of ZSE Energia will be assumed by the successor company Energetika Slovensko, a.s., while the brands ZSE and VSE will continue to be used.

Customers will not be required to sign new contracts, and no meter readings (electricity or gas) will be needed as part of the transition.

More detailed information will soon be published on the websites of both suppliers, and each customer will be individually informed.

More information is available at this link.

■     Public Consultation on the Strategy for securing a sufficient volume of ancillary services for 2026 took place

The Slovak Electricity Transmission System (Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a.s., hereinafter referred to as "SEPS") announced on its website that a public consultation on the Strategy for Securing a Sufficient Volume of Ancillary Services for 2026 was held from 22 May 2025 to 30 May 2025 (inclusive).

According to SEPS, the strategy summarizes current commercial and technical information used to set up the process of procuring ancillary services (hereinafter "AS") availability for the year 2026.

The aim of the strategy is to define the procurement framework and recommend an optimal approach to purchasing AS availability, taking into account economic aspects as well as the requirements for electricity supply quality and the safety and reliability of the Slovak transmission system operation.

The main objective of conducting the public consultation, according to SEPS, is to provide a platform for expert discussion among AS providers, electricity market participants, state institutions, and professionals in the field of electricity, as well as to establish conditions for organizing tenders for the procurement of AS in 2026.

Participation in the public consultation was possible by submitting comments. After evaluating the submitted comments, the conclusions will be presented during a webinar, which is tentatively scheduled to take place at the end of the first half of June 2025.

More information is available at this link.

■     SEPS increases grid connection capacity for regional distribution system operators by 25%

On 21 May 2025, SEPS announced on its website that it is increasing connection capacities for both consumption and delivery at the interface between the transmission system (TS) and distribution systems (DS). This step establishes the necessary conditions for the development of the electricity sector, in line with anticipated growth outlined in approved national energy policies and corresponding action plans.

SEPS further stated that the planned consumption capacity will gradually be increased by 25% following the conclusion of amendments to connection agreements with regional distribution system operators. The delivery capacity to the TS will be uniformly set at 30% of the consumption connection capacity.

According to SEPS, as mandated by the Energy Act, the company is obligated to ensure adequate capacity and operational reliability of the transmission system. It must also consider the potential for improving energy efficiency without requiring additional investments in transmission infrastructure.

The adjustment involves the removal of dispatcher reserves and the implementation of technical and organizational measures both on the side of SEPS and the regional distribution system operators. The goal is to maximize the efficient use of existing infrastructure. Thus, the management of efficient connection capacity use at the TS/DS interface is primarily in the hands of the regional distribution system operators, while maintaining unchanged conditions for secure electricity supply.

According to SEPS, increasing the TS connection capacities at the TS/DS interface creates a crucial precondition for rising consumption and for connecting new distributed generation to regional distribution networks. This will ultimately support the achievement of certain EU climate targets outlined in the “Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021–2030.”

More information is available at this link.

■     SEPS operational code amended

On 14 May 2025, Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a. s. (SEPS) announced on its website that the amended operational code of the transmission system operator came into effect on 12 May 2025. The amendment was approved by the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO) by Decision No. 0001/2025/E-PP dated 9 May 2025.

The updated document is available HERE.

More information can be found at this link.

■     Public consultation on the proposal for the definition and use of specific products for balancing energy and availability from 1 January 2026

On 5 May 2025, Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a. s. (SEPS) announced on its website that a public consultation on the document “Proposal for the Definition and Use of Specific Products for Balancing Energy and Availability from 1 January 2026” would take place from 5 May 2025 to 6 June 2025 (inclusive).

SEPS stated that the obligation to carry out such consultation arises from Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195, establishing a guideline on electricity balancing (referred to as “EB GL Regulation”).

SEPS initiated the review of the need for specific products for balancing energy and availability in order to create the conditions for their use beyond 31 December 2025, the expiration date of the current regulatory decision No. 0006/2024/E-EU on the use of specific products.

The company further informed that it has been using standard products since joining the MARI and PICASSO platforms. However, it plans to retain and continue using the specific product mFRR3 during the period from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. As a result, SEPS is subject to the obligations of Article 26(2) of the EB GL Regulation, which requires the need for specific products to be reviewed at least every two years.

More information can be found at this link.

■     The Ministry of the Environment supported projects focused on industrial decarbonization and heating sector modernization with €440 million from the Modernisation Fund

The Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (Ministerstvo životného prostredia Slovenskej republiky, hereinafter referred to as "Ministry of Environment") published on 28 May 2025 that it has supported projects aimed at decarbonizing the industry and modernizing the heating sector with a total amount of €440 million from the Modernisation Fund.

Under the industrial decarbonization scheme, the MoE has already signed contracts with recipients totaling €140.8 million as part of the first round of the call.

From the hybrid scheme for the heating sector, 60 projects with a total value of almost €300 million were approved under two announced calls. Of the 13 projects submitted in the first evaluation round of the first call, 11 projects worth approximately €28.5 million have already been successfully completed.

In addition, the MoE stated that in April 2025, the first evaluation round of the call to support energy production from renewable energy sources was concluded. A total of 25 applications were submitted, amounting to €171 million — thus exceeding the maximum annual allocation in accordance with state aid rules, which is €150 million. The total allocation under this scheme is €350 million.

The submission of applications in the first round of the call to support the improvement of energy efficiency in existing public buildings has also been concluded. The total allocation for this call is €380 million. Already in the first round, 801 applications were submitted, with a total requested amount significantly exceeding the available allocation.

More information is available HERE.

■     SIEA raises income thresholds in the Green Solidarity project

On 30 May 2025, The Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (Slovenská inovačná a energetická agentúra, hereinafter referred to as "SIEA") published on its website that, starting from 1 June 2025, the income assessment criteria for households applying for subsidized assistance for installing renewable energy devices under the Zelená solidarita (Green Solidarity) project will change.

SIEA clarified that from now on, the annual disposable income for the calendar year 2023 will be assessed, and the maximum income limit will be increased.

This change stems from the general support conditions published by SIEA on 30 May 2025. The new income limits will apply to vouchers issued from 1 June 2025.

The annual income limit for low-income households in the Green Solidarity project will increase from the original €6,449.80 to €7,119.70. For households with a registered resident with a severe disability, the limit will rise from €9,214 to €10,171. Disposable household income refers to the total income of all household members during the assessed period, meaning the income of all property owners and also of persons with permanent or temporary residence at the installation address.

SIEA additionally noted that a simple calculator is available on the website zelenadomacnostiam.sk, allowing applicants to calculate the annual net income threshold for a low-income household. SIEA issues vouchers only to households that meet the income criteria.

Within the Green Solidarity project for the years 2024 to 2029, a total of €28.4 million has been allocated. So far, 183 vouchers worth more than €780,000 have been reimbursed, and another 396 vouchers worth €1.97 million have already been issued. Currently, €3.3 million is available for households in the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, and nearly €19 million for other regions.

More on this topic is available HERE.

■     Envirofond informs municipalities how to obtain a contribution for performing separate collection of biologically decomposable kitchen waste from households (BRKO)

Envirofond published information about obtaining an annual contribution for performing a separate collection of BRKO from households according to § 7 para. 1 letter c) of the Waste Disposal Fees Act.

The contribution will be granted to a municipality that meets the following conditions:

• The municipality ensures separate collection of biologically decomposable kitchen waste from households using a collection container,
• The municipality ensures the processing of the entire collected volume of biologically decomposable kitchen waste from households at a facility for the processing of biologically decomposable municipal waste,
• The municipality has not been sanctioned in the past three years for violation of this law or special regulations (§ 81 para. 7 letters b) and g) and para. 8 of Act No. 79/2015 Coll., as amended),
• The municipality submitted an application for this contribution by 30 June of the relevant calendar year.

Envirofond reminds that applicants are entitled to submit their applications to Envirofond by 30 June 2025. For the evaluation of the application, it is necessary to submit the application along with all mandatory attachments.

You can download the monitoring for the month of May 2025 in PDF format here.

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