Prague
Gas, Electricity, Water in Prague
Set-up and payment of utilities may be written into your rental agreement. In this case, a utilities fee included in the rental price and the landlord handles payments. If you own your apartment or the utilities have been registered in your name, it will be up to you to monitor service. Basic monthly price for all utilities should be about 2,500Kc.
A helpful site for advice and technical information about all utility services in Prague is http://www.spoluproprahu.cz/.
Gas
Prazska Plynarenska (PP) is the supplier of natural gas. if you use an oven range or boiler they must be reported to the gas company.
To set up a new gas supply point, you'll need to fill out an application online, request a representative to your home, or go to PP's customer service centre:
PP Customer Service
Jungmannova 31
Prague 1 - Nove Mesto
Telephone: 840 555 333
- Personal identification
- Written consent of the owner of your property
- If installing new appliances, an initial inspection report issued by a certified technician (this will be arranged upon submission of your application)
- Your bank information
Payment
A technician will inspect your meter and give an estimate of how much will be consumed per period. A deposit (zaloha) is necessary. Bills come once a year and indicates whether more or less then the estimate has been consumed. If there is a large discrepancy between the estimate and the actual amount of gas used, the gas company will reset the deposit rate for the following year.
Payment can be made by: direct debit (amount is automatically deducted from your bank account), single transfer order (one-time bank payment initiated by the customer after receipt of the bill), cash using Postal Form A (common method of paying various bills. The form attached to your bill is taken to the post office and the amount due is paid for in cash), SIPO (combined bill which can include your rent, basic utilities, and television fees. You can sign up for it at the post office, where the bill is paid for in cash).
Electricity
Prazska energetika runs electricity in Prague. Meters are inspected once ever four months. Apartment buildings usually post notices a few days before the inspector comes.
There are several service, but the main office usually has customer service employees that speak English:
Prazska energetika, a.s.
Jungmannova 31
110 00
Prague 1 - Nove Mesto
Hours:
Mon - Thursday 9:00 - 18:00
Friday 9:00 - 12:00
Call Center: 267 055 555
Plans
There are several plans to choose from. Choosing the one best for you depends on the kind of electricity usage you have in your home. With an electrical heating system the amount you pay will be calculated based on two different tariffs: peak/high tariff (vysoky tariff) and low tariff (nizky tariff). The homes accumulator or storage heater is set to automatically store up heat energy at night when the tariff is low. By encouraging consumers to use more energy at off-hours, the electrical company can curb heavy electricity consumption during times of high demand.
- Komfort Klasik 24 - best for homes that consume electricity only for ordinary consumption and do not use electricity for heat or hot water. The difference between this and the other plans is that there is no low tariff - all the rates are the same, regardless of time of day. Distribution rate D01d is best for one to two-person homes that don't have appliances with high energy consumption rates, like dishwashers, large fridges, and clothes dryers.
- Komfort AKU 8 - offers a better price rate for homes with electric accumulators for heat and hot water. For 8 hours per day during off-peak hours, all of the homes electricity is run on the low tariff. Choose distribution rate D25d if you only have an electrical boiler or a small storage heater, or choose rate D26d if you heat water with an electrical boiler and have storage heaters in multiple rooms.
- Komfort Kombi 16 - is designed for homes with a hybrid or combined heating system composed of both an electrical accumulator and electrical boilers/space heaters. For 16 hours every day, the entire home is fed by low-tariff electricity. This plan comes with only one distribution rate (D35d).
- Komfort Pr - ideal for homes heated exclusively by space heaters or an electrical boiler. For 20 hours each day, your home will only use low-tariff electricity. This plan offers only one distribution rate (D45d).
- Komfort TC 22 - for households that use a heat pump. The home is heated on the low-tariff rate for 22 hours a day. If your heat pump was put into service before March 31, 2005, use distribution rate D55d. If it was put into service afterwards, choose distribution rate D56d.
- Komfort Vikend - is designed for cottages and other homes that are occupied mostly seasonally and on weekends. This plan has only one distribution rate (D61d).
Payment
Electricity is paid for in advance, in the form of a deposit. The amount of the deposit is determined according to the size of your home and the number of inhabitants. Once your bill arrives (once every four months), it will specify how much electricity was actually used. Any difference between the actual sum and the deposit will be added to or subtracted from your next deposit payment.
A complete price list for 2011 can be found here.
Payment can be made by: direct debit (amount is automatically deducted from your bank account), single transfer order (one-time bank payment initiated by the customer after receipt of the bill), cash using Postal Form A (common method of paying various bills. The form attached to your bill is taken to the post office and the amount due is paid for in cash), SIPO (combined bill which can include your rent, basic utilities, and television fees. You can sign up for it at the post office, where the bill is paid for in cash).
Water
Prague's tap water is perfectly safe to drink, but not is always served. If water is asked for at a restaurant, you are more likely to get bottled water which you'll have to pay for.
Water consumption is usually included in the lease agreement. If you have an issue with service or need to set-up service for a property you own, The Prague Water Supply and Sewage Company (Prazske vodovody a kanalizace) is responsible for supply and treatment. For issues, you can contact the company at:
Prazske vodovody a kanalizace, a.s. (PVK)
Ke Kablu 971
102 00 Prague 10
Tel: +420 840 111 112
Update 27/01/2011
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