Energy Regulatory Office The first year in office of the first female President of the Energy Regulatory Office - News

Exactly one year ago, the Prime Minister appointed Renata Mroczek as President of the Energy Regulatory Office (URE). She is the first woman to hold this post.

Over the past 12 months, Poland has faced substantial and sometimes unpredictable external and internal influences – including in the energy sector. Just beyond the country’s eastern border, a full-scale war is still raging, compounded by yet another conflict in the Middle East, which has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Among internal factors, certainly worth noting is the need to implement measures effectively in response to far-reaching amendments to the Energy Law, to protect consumers against sudden price spikes, and, more recently, to address climate-related issues, such as the high electricity consumption of air-conditioning units during extreme heatwaves or record-low water levels.

Amid these complexities, it is reassuring that the new President of the Energy Regulatory Office’s term in office is widely regarded as a period of stability and sustainable transformation in the energy sector. This view is also supported by reports and indicators from the energy and fuel markets.

What undoubtedly contributed to the high effectiveness of the new President of URE from the very first days of her tenure, i.e. from 11 August 2025, was her professional background. Prior to her appointment, she served as Vice-President of URE for nearly a year, and before that, she spent close to eight years leading the Central-Western Regional Branch Office in Łódź. It is the URE’s largest branch office, covering the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and Warsaw itself.

Three main objectives – dialogue, digitalisation, reliable data

Since taking office as President of URE, Renata Mroczek has repeatedly highlighted her commitment to fostering broad dialogue and promoting integration among institutions and energy sectors, focusing on potential synergies and shared objectives. She has also emphasised the need to digitise more areas of URE’s operations and to strengthen its analytical and expert capabilities by securing transparent, comprehensible and reliable data from various market sectors.

The first year of tenure is an excellent opportunity to assess how effectively these objectives are being achieved in practice.

Sectoral agreement on the development of network infrastructure for electromobility

An example of successful cross-sectoral dialogue, initiated by the President of URE, was the sectoral agreement on the development of network infrastructure for electromobility, signed on 24 September 2025. The signatories to the agreement, apart from the President of URE, are the Polish Power Transmission and Distribution Association (PTPiREE), the New Mobility Association (PSNM), and the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA

The agreement contains guidelines and best practices for parties involved in the grid connection process. The parties also declared their willingness to cooperate in supporting the expansion of high-power charging stations, and in developing and modernising the grid and constructing power connections for EV infrastructure.

URE Digital Twin – initiatives to digitise the Office

The URE Digital Twin is a joint initiative by the Energy Regulatory Office, the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the Centre for Energy Transition at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw, launched on 17 October 2025.

The main objective of the first stage is to digitise the URE’s heat tariff-setting workflows by creating an artificial intelligence-based digital simulation of the process. The URE Digital Twin will speed up the heat tariff-setting process on the Office’s side, and help heating companies avoid errors that currently significantly delay the approval of tariff applications. This is undoubtedly an ambitious and unique project on a European scale, bringing together science, public administration and the Regulator to tackle the real challenges facing the energy sector.

The latest developments include the addition of a new partner, the Research and Academic Computer Network, and the announcement of a call for proposals from the European Funds for Digital Development on 31 July 2026.

Ultimately, the plan is to roll out digital solutions in other areas as well, including compliance with market participants’ reporting obligations.

President of URE’s Cross-Sectoral Accelerator for the Development of the Polish Energy Sector – an initiative to foster dialogue with market participants

29 October 2025, Renata Mroczek established the Cross-Sectoral Accelerator for the Development of the Polish Energy Sector (PARPE).

Signatories to the Accelerator include the Ministers responsible for Poland’s energy policy: the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Climate and Environment, the Minister of State Assets, the Minister of Digital Affairs, and the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy. The new initiative also involves trade organisations and companies from the natural gas, district heating, liquid fuels and electricity sectors, including PSE S.A., as well as those concerned with renewable energy sources and energy storage, and entities representing consumers, including energy-intensive industries and local authorities ‒ a total of over 30 institutions and organisations.

The main objective of the Accelerator, which operates under the auspices of the President of URE, is to coordinate activities to strengthen cooperation among entities shaping the energy market in Poland and sectors particularly exposed to challenging changes in the energy sector. This is expected to enable the effective implementation of EU climate policy requirements, the continued development of renewable energy sources and electromobility, and closer cooperation between the electricity, heat, gas, fuel and hydrogen sectors, while maintaining the competitiveness of key sectors and the Polish economy as a whole.

Five working groups have been set up within the Accelerator, each comprising around 50 people:

• Sectoral Integration Group aims to develop synergies between the electricity, heating and gas sectors, taking industry and transport into account.
• Network Infrastructure Group is focused on accelerating the integration of sustainable renewable energy development and the decarbonisation of the economy, among other measures, by streamlining the grid connection process, optimising the location of renewable energy sources and energy storage facilities, and ensuring the security of the National Power System with a substantial share of distributed generation.
• Flexibility and Redispatching Group seeks to define a framework for developing flexibility services, system balancing with a high RES share, and reducing non-market-based redispatching.
• Electricity Market Group is primarily tasked with optimising the functioning of the electricity market and improving the competitiveness of Polish enterprises.
• Fuel Markets Group aims to optimise the functioning of the gaseous and liquid-fuel markets.

The Accelerator framework enables:

• closer cooperation across the electricity, heating and other sectors, including natural gas, liquid fuels and hydrogen, their digitalisation, as well as the further development of electromobility, whilst maintaining the competitiveness of key sectors and the Polish economy as a whole,
• identification of the key needs, opportunities and challenges facing the Polish energy sector,
• development of recommendations for measures to support the transition (including legislative and regulatory measures) and the preparation of joint positions and reports,
• building mutual trust and responsibility among market participants amid systemic change.

Are there already any visible results of Accelerator’s operation? Definitely, although many proposals are still taking shape across the respective teams and working groups. However, the meetings that have taken place have already had a tangible impact on the shape of important new legislation, and in recent months specific proposals have been drawn up to regulate cooperation with key partners in the energy sector, such as the Polish Railways (PKP) and the State Water Management Authority (Wody Polskie).

The hydrogen market – the fifth regulated sector

The hydrogen market is the most recent addition and the fifth market to be regulated by the President URE, who is chiefly responsible for issuing licences and for certifying and designating hydrogen system operators in this area.

On 27 October 2025, the President of URE granted an exemption to the hydrogen transmission system operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A.  from the legal unbundling obligation in respect of activities relating to the transmission of gaseous fuels. The decision includes an assessment by the President of URE of the exemption’s impact on the transparency of the natural gas and hydrogen markets, cross-subsidisation, prices and tariff rates that GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. plans to include in its tariffs, and cross-border trade in gas and hydrogen. In her decision, the President of URE also set a timetable for the transfer of assets from the natural gas sector to the hydrogen sector.

On 9 June 2026, the President of URE awarded GAZ-SYSTEM a certificate confirming its compliance with the independence criteria. GAZ-SYSTEM’s compliance with the independence criteria set out in the Energy Law and EU legislation was confirmed during administrative proceedings conducted by the Regulator. During these proceedings, the President of URE obtained favourable opinions from the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the European Commission on the certification.

At present, the most pressing needs of the market and its participants concern the clarification of current regulations, full implementation of the EU Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package, and the issuance of implementing regulations for the Energy Law Act, particularly those setting out detailed rules for system operation and hydrogen quality specifications.

Approval of electricity supply and distribution tariffs in December 2025

The approval of electricity supply and distribution tariffs for 2026 by the President of URE was a key milestone in the first year of her term. The resulting tariffs strongly indicate that electricity prices are falling. From 1 January 2026, for households covered by the electricity supply tariff approved by the President of URE, the average price per MWh is PLN 495.16, which is lower than the so-called frozen price in force in 2025 and significantly lower than the prices approved in suppliers’ tariffs for the previous year. Furthermore, lower tariff prices translate into savings for the state budget, as the costs of consumer support decrease.

In the 2026 distribution tariff, most companies’ individual rates did not increase. The President of URE ensures that the costs of the transition are fairly balanced and reasonably passed on end consumers by energy companies. Applications submitted to URE are thoroughly analysed on a case-by-case basis before a tariff is approved, and companies are asked, sometimes repeatedly, to provide clarifications and additional information.

The first-ever auction for offshore wind farms

On 17 December 2025, the President of URE held, for the first time in Poland, an auction to support offshore wind energy. It proved successful, securing support for further offshore wind farms under development in the Polish sector of the Baltic Sea as part of the so-called second phase of development, with a total installed electrical capacity of over 3.4 GW.

From the very beginning, the President of URE has been actively involved in developing this sector of the Polish energy industry. On 4 April 2025, she signed the first concession agreement for electricity generation at an offshore wind farm. More recently, on 10 July 2026, she witnessed a historic moment when the delivery of power generated at this farm was officially confirmed by the receiving station in the municipality of Choczewo.

International cooperation

Within the EU, the President of URE continues to engage in expert cooperation with other EU regulators, helping build and shape the EU’s single energy market. A detailed description of the state of the electricity and gas markets in Poland, as well as the measures taken by the Polish regulator in 2025, was provided in the July National Report, which was submitted to the European Commission and ACER. In February 2026, the President of URE hosted Dietmar Preinstorfer, Vice President of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER), in Warsaw.

New reports from the Energy Regulatory Office – data you can trustć

During the first year of the President’s term, URE published 11 major reports, including first editions of several novel and valuable studies on specific regulated sectors and markets, such as thermal power and gaseous fuels, as well as reports on the reallocation of funds and renewable energy micro-installations.

2025 was the first full year in which the new tools and market opportunities introduced by a comprehensive amendment to the Energy Law Act of 2023, such as cable pooling and dynamic pricing contracts for domestic customers, were available. URE produced new reports on how these instruments operate and their impact on the energy market, as well as the first report on electricity storage in Poland.

All these materials, containing up-to-date, comprehensive, reliable and nationally unique data, are available free of charge on the URE website.

First Regulatory Sandbox

Another unique initiative launched by the new President of URE is the first Regulatory Sandbox – a controlled legal and testing environment in which valuable initiatives to develop the Polish energy sector can be undertaken in a safe, yet simplified and rapid manner. The call for applications opened on 19 January 2026. A total of 17 applications were submitted for the project.

Tangible impact on legislation

Over the past year, the President of URE has also played an important role in drafting around 100 legislative acts, particularly bills and regulations concerning both national and European law. Although this is not a direct influence through a legislative initiative, the President of URE still reviews and consults on all legislative acts related to the energy sector. This is coupled with participation in parliamentary working groups, Sejm and Senate committees, and ongoing, regular cooperation with ministries.

Other initiatives by the President of URE and received awards

The role of the President of URE is not limited to regulating the markets within her remit; it also extends to the broader context of education and communication, including active, ongoing participation in public debate on energy-related issues.

Notable examples include meetings with students, such as a lecture inaugurating a new postgraduate course at the University of Warsaw on ‘Energy transition and the sustainable economy in practice in Poland and the European Union’, and participation in the opening ceremony of the Institute of Energy and Economic Law and Regulation at the University of Kalisz.

In addition, the President of URE has been widely recognised for her effective performance with multiple awards. Renata Mroczek was included in the “25 Women in the Energy Sector” list compiled by Forbes Women, and received the Women’s Energy award (in the Energy for Development category) and the Amber of the Polish Energy Sector award, for her successful implementation of cross-sector cooperation within the Polish energy sector. She is also regularly invited to and attends the most important industry events and features in both national and specialist media.

What comes next? Plans and challenges for the coming years

The President of URE already oversees five energy markets, each with its own expectations. In the district heating sector, hopes are high that regulations, including those at EU level, will be adapted to the specific nature and scale of the Polish district heating sector – which is fragmented, varies regionally in terms of energy sources, technologies and the degree of decarbonisation, and, in many respects, is the largest in Europe.

In the gas and liquid fuels sector, URE plans to consider more than 3,700 licence applications by 2030 and implement the RED III Directive. The hydrogen market has also emerged as a new regulatory priority. In Poland and globally alike, this market is shifting from the planning to the implementation phase.

With a growing workload and increasingly evident budgetary and staffing shortfalls, digitising administrative processes is the top priority for the coming years. This presents a real opportunity for the energy sector, including the relevant public administration, to speed up processes, make better use of existing information, and seamlessly aggregate data from multiple sources. The automation of many processes will not only improve efficiency but also facilitate cooperation with URE. This advanced system will also enable consumers to easily compare and select the best deals, while allowing organisations to make more informed decisions on tariffs, business matters and legislation. That is why digitalisation and automation are not merely a cost or an investment, but a necessary step that will bring numerous benefits and long-term savings.

It remains equally important to continue strengthening and streamlining dialogue among the various stakeholders in the energy sector. The initiatives developed as part of the Accelerator are already beginning to translate into concrete solutions that impact the performance of the Polish economy and legislative measures. Many other initiatives are still underway and will demonstrate their value in the longer term. However, the positive impact of cooperation among various interest groups, who are finding solutions that benefit everyone, is already evident. Making correct decisions and ensuring successful transformation depend on reliable data, which is why building strong internal analytical capabilities will be an ongoing challenge for many years to come.

The initiatives presented above are only a selection of those undertaken by President Renata Mroczek during her first year in office. A more comprehensive overview of the activities of the President of URE is available on the website www.ure.gov.pl, on URE’s social media channels, and in specific reports and communications.