Polish households hit with 840 zł bills for EU‑mandated meter replacements

An EU energy‑efficiency directive (2012/27/EU) obliges member states to replace water and electricity meters with remote‑read models. Poland transposed the rule through a 2021 amendment to the Energy Efficiency Act and a ministerial decree issued in December 2021. Under the decree, housing cooperatives are billing residents for the cost of the new meters – up to 840 zł per household – with payment required by January 2025. Unlike the nationwide, budget‑funded rollout of smart electricity meters, the fee for these water‑meter and log‑thermometer upgrades is not covered by the National Fund for the Environment, leaving consumers to bear the expense. The situation exposes gaps in the legislative implementation process, prompting calls for clearer guidance and equitable financing.

The issue has been highlighted by legal experts who note that the EU directive set the overall goal but did not prescribe the exact financing model, resulting in variable costs for Polish households across different regions.