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Electricity & gas · Poland
Checked 2026-09-30

🗓️ Estimated bills and back-billing in Poland: how far back can my supplier charge me?

The short answer

If your meter was not read for a long time, a large catch-up bill can follow. Many countries limit how far back a supplier may charge and set rules for meter readings.

📜 The rules in Poland

Back-billing and estimated bills

If a meter or reading error made bills too high or too low, the company corrects the invoices for the whole period affected. Claims for sale of energy by a business expire after 2 years (Civil Code).

  • Civil Code art. 554 with art. 555: 2-year limitation for sales of energy. After it expires, the claim cannot be enforced against a consumer. (api.sejm.gov.pl)
  • Estimated bills are based on your actual use in the same period last year; tell the company about big changes. With a remote-reading meter you can choose billing on actual readings. (eli.gov.pl)
  • From 5 Sep 2026 a billing period for electricity may not exceed 2 months for new contracts; longer periods in older contracts may continue until 31 Dec 2028 at the latest. (eli.gov.pl)
  • An overpayment is credited to the next bill unless you ask for a refund; an underpayment is added to the next invoice. (eli.gov.pl)
Official source: eli.gov.pl · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

  1. Read your meter nowTake a dated photo and send the reading to your supplier. It stops estimates from growing.
  2. Check the period on the billWhich months are charged, and was the reading real or estimated?
  3. Compare with the rulesSee below how far back a supplier may bill in Poland and how often your meter must be read.
  4. Dispute in writingIf the bill goes back further than allowed, write to the supplier, then to the dispute body below.

📇 Who to contact

Koordynator do spraw negocjacji przy Prezesie URESettles disputes with energy companiesWhen the company has not solved your complaint📞 22 487 56 22🔗 koordynator.ure.gov.pl
Urząd Regulacji Energetyki (URE)Supervises energy companies and explains your rightsFor information, and to report a company that breaks the rules📞 22 244 26 36🔗 www.ure.gov.pl

❓ Questions

Do I have to pay a huge catch-up bill at once?

Ask for a payment plan. Many suppliers must offer one; the rules for Poland are on this page.

Why did I get an estimated bill?

No reading was available. Send a real reading and ask for a corrected bill.

What if the meter was faulty?

Ask the grid operator to test it. Keep the test report for your complaint.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

🧾Wrong or high bill→📣Complaint about a supplier→📟Smart meter→🔄Switching supplier→📈Price increase→

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