The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection has initiated explanatory proceedings against Polish Power Grids (PSE). The inspection aims to determine whether the state-owned transmission system operator is abusing its dominant position. The intervention is based on numerous complaints from renewable energy sector businesses, who point to irregularities in compensation for forced shutdowns during periods of power oversupply and suspicions of favoritism towards selected energy market entities.

Allegation of Abuse of Dominance

UOKiK is investigating whether PSE uses its monopolistic position as an operator to unfairly treat selected energy producers.

Scrutiny of Renewable Energy Compensation

The Office will examine the correctness of calculating compensation for energy not produced during forced grid shutdowns.

Suspicion of Favoritism

The investigation will check whether redispatching mechanisms promote state-owned generators at the expense of the private sector.

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has taken legal steps to scrutinize the activities of Polish Power Grids (PSE). The proceedings focus on the mechanism of non-market redispatching of renewable energy generation units. In recent months, due to limited capacity of the national power system on sunny and windy days, PSE has increasingly ordered renewable sources to be disconnected. However, industry entrepreneurs warn that this process lacks transparency, and the financial compensation paid for such shutdowns may be undervalued or awarded in a discriminatory manner. The regulator's analysis will verify whether PSE violated antitrust regulations by favoring specific energy producers at the expense of smaller players. A key element of the investigation will be examining procedures for qualifying installations for curtailment and the method of calculating losses incurred by owners of photovoltaic and wind farms. Complaints include, among others, the lack of clear criteria for selecting units for shutdown in crisis situations. The Office will also check whether the operator unjustifiably delayed network modernization processes, which could indirectly force more frequent restrictions on clean energy production. For years, the Polish power system has struggled with an insufficient number of energy storage facilities and outdated transmission infrastructure, which, combined with the rapid growth of renewable energy capacity, leads to increasingly frequent conflicts between the operator and generators. Preliminary findings indicate that the number of complaints from private entities operating in the renewable energy sector increased drastically at the beginning of 2026. Industry organizations emphasize that the unpredictability of shutdowns and unclear compensation policies undermine investment profitability, which could slow down the country's energy transition. UOKiK announced that at this stage, the proceedings are explanatory and are being conducted in a case, not against specific individuals; however, if allegations of abuse of a dominant position are confirmed, the state-owned giant could face a financial penalty of up to 10% of its annual turnover.

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media highlight mismanagement of the state-owned company and the blow to private renewable energy businesses. Conservative media emphasize the need to protect system stability and the difficult role of the state operator.