Average electricity price in the free market exceeds regulated tariff since 2023

Since mid-2023, the average electricity price in the free market has remained higher than the regulated tariff, although the gap has narrowed in 2025. A report by ERSE indicates that prices charged by regulated suppliers are consistently lower than those in the free market. The price difference peaked in Q3 2024 but began to decrease in 2025 due to falling free market prices. Despite higher average prices in the free market, ERSE found cheaper commercial offers than the regulated tariff in all 2025 quarters, suggesting many consumers are stuck with older, more expensive contracts. The report highlights significant price volatility over the past five years, with a notable decline in electricity prices in late 2025. Additionally, 98% of electricity sold in the free market to households was at fixed prices, while large clients predominantly used market-indexed contracts. ERSE noted that commercial margins remained positive for domestic and small business segments in 2025, while margins…