Electricity & gas in Slovakia: your rights
The rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Slovakia, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.
What is going on?
Everything at a glance
The market
Households can choose any electricity or gas supplier; switching itself is free. Supply prices for households are capped by ÚRSO (maximum prices), and suppliers may charge less. Your distributor stays the same.
Energy regulator
Úrad pre reguláciu sieťových odvetví (ÚRSO)
Dispute resolution
ÚRSO – alternatívne riešenie spotrebiteľských sporov · free
First ask your supplier in writing to fix the problem. You can apply to ÚRSO if it refuses or does not answer within 30 days, and within one year. Disputes over 20 EUR; apply by e-mail ars@urso.gov.sk or post.
Compare prices official
Cenová kalkulačka ÚRSO (elektrina a plyn)
Switching supplier
Switching is free: suppliers may not charge for it. It takes at least 21 days, usually to the 1st of a month; the new supplier can handle it with your power of attorney. Regulated-price contracts: open-ended with 2 months' notice, or 12 months; for market-price contracts the lock-in is set in the contract.
Price rises
Your supplier must announce any price or terms change at least 30 days before it applies (publication on its website is enough). If you disagree, you can terminate free of charge by notifying it at least 15 days before the change.
Regulated price
ÚRSO sets maximum supply prices for households. In 2026 the average household electricity price is about €196/MWh incl. VAT (+2.78%); gas end prices are about a third higher than the subsidised 2025 prices. About 90% of households also get state 'adresná energopomoc' as a lower price on the bill.
Help if money is tight
Targeted state energy aid for 2026, based on household income ('bonita'). You need permanent residence at the supply address. No application is needed: for electricity and gas it appears as a lower price on your bill; for district heating you get an energy voucher.
Protection against cut-off
If you miss a payment, the supplier must warn you, set a new due date at least 10 days after the warning, and tell you that supply will be interrupted if you still do not pay. A complaint does not postpone the due date.
If your supplier goes bust
If your supplier can no longer supply, a supplier of last resort (DPI) takes over for up to 3 months at an ÚRSO-capped price. Electricity customers who pay become its regular customers automatically; gas customers must sign a new contract within 3 months or risk unauthorised consumption.
Power cut
Report a power cut to your regional distribution company: all three have a non-stop fault line (SSD's is free). Have your EIC code or meter number and address ready. Western and eastern Slovakia can also report online at vypadokelektriny.sk. First check your main circuit breaker and whether the outage is planned.
Cooling-off period
You can withdraw from an energy contract free of charge within 14 days of signing without giving a reason (30 days in certain cases). Send it in writing, ideally by registered post.
Smart meter
Distributors install smart meters (IMS) free of charge for low-voltage customers using at least 4 MWh a year. Others can ask for one at their own cost; it must be fitted within four months.
Solar panels
The distributor never buys surplus electricity. Only an electricity supplier can buy your surplus or offer a 'virtual battery'; if yours does not, you can switch supplier. A small source up to 10.8 kW is connected free of charge.
Free energy advice
Official information on the 2026 state energy aid: who qualifies and how it is paid. Call centre 02/3300 3300 (working days 8:00–16:00); also at district office client centres.
Energy sharing and communities
An active customer can share electricity from its own source or storage with other supply points anywhere in Slovakia, also with a different distributor; energy communities can share too. The market operator OKTE evaluates the sharing: you register in its EDC system and sign a data contract with OKTE.
- Every supply point in the group needs an interval (smart) meter, the group needs at least one generator or storage unit, and a supply point can belong to only one sharing group. (okte.sk)
- For a source up to 11 kW a signed declaration is enough; ÚRSO approval is not needed. (okte.sk)
Heating without the gas grid
ÚRSO sets maximum prices for heat from district heating; the supplier may not exceed any price component when billing. The variable part is billed for the heat measured at the supply point, the fixed part for the heat ordered. Complain to the supplier first, then send ÚRSO a complaint (podnet).
Grants for heat pumps and insulation
Zelená domácnostiam, run by the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA), supports solar panels, solar collectors, heat pumps and biomass boilers: you reserve the grant, have the device installed, and the money goes to your bank account. Obnov dom, run by the Slovak Environment Agency, funds renovation of family houses.
- Obnov dom (Plán obnovy a odolnosti) covers insulation of walls, roof and ceilings, new windows and doors, heat pumps, solar collectors and biomass boilers; works must be done by professional contractors. (obnovdom.sk)
- Low-income households can get more support through Zelená solidarita, also run by SIEA. (zelenadomacnostiam.sk)
Back-billing and estimated bills
Your distributor must read your meter at least once a year. If it cannot read it and you do not report the reading, it may estimate consumption from your previous use; if the meter was faulty, it may estimate back to the last physical reading. Gas must be billed at least yearly.
- A complaint must be settled within 30 days, in complex cases within three months (§ 17a of the Energy Act). A complaint does not postpone the due date of the bill. (urso.gov.sk)
- If you doubt the meter, you can ask the distributor to test it; you pay for the test only if no fault is found. (urso.gov.sk)
Energy costs for tenants
Heating and hot-water costs in blocks of flats are split between flats under Decree 503/2022 of the Ministry of Economy, which also sets hot water at the tap at 45–55 °C. With questions on the heat and hot-water statement turn to ÚRSO; other issues with the building manager go to the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI).
- Decree 503/2022 sets the rules for allocating the costs of heating and hot water to the end users in a building. (static.slov-lex.sk)
Grid connection
A small household source (malý zdroj) up to 10.8 kW is connected free of charge. You apply online with your distribution company; after approval you sign the connection contract. Disputes over connection contracts can go to ÚRSO's alternative dispute resolution.
- At Západoslovenská distribučná you apply through e-Žiadosti and must sign the connection contract within 6 months. (zsdis.sk)
- ÚRSO handles consumer disputes arising from contracts for connection to the distribution grid. (urso.gov.sk)