Polish government to freeze gas prices for households and hospitals

Gas bills for households and some public entities such as hospitals will not increase this year, under new legislation aimed at protecting some vulnerable consumers from soaring gas prices.

Poland's treasury ministry noted in a comment attached to the bill that freezing gas bills "would provide significant relief for millions of Polish families."

Gas prices could rise by as much as 54 percent this year owing to turbulence on the energy markets.

Under the bill the government will pay compensation to energy companies applying lower prices to customers listed in the legislation. The compensation will come to an estimated PLN 10 billion (EUR 2.2 billion). 

The bill will be covered by revenues from the sale of CO2 emission rights by the Polish government.