Apart from electrical energy, eight PKE plants produce heat as well. Typical combined power and heat plants (that is plants which produce mainly heat) include Katowice Combined Heat and Power Plant and Bielsko-Biała Group of Combined Heat and Power Plants. However, condensing power plants – such as Jaworzno III, Łaziska, Siersza, Łagisza, Blachownia and Halemba – sell this product as well.

Currently the company has the installed heating capacity of 2400 MW, apart from 4950 MW of installed electrical capacity generating electrical energy. In 2004 PKE sold 10.85 mln GJ of heat, which allowed the company to secure 16% share in the Silesian Province local market. The production capacity is much greater – with the current installed heating capacity, the company may double its share in the local market. However, the sales volume depends not only on weather conditions but also on thermal insulation of heated facilities, installed heat control equipment and customer budgets.

The company provides heat to production companies, as well as to local heat companies which further distribute it to individual and institutional customers in particular towns.

PKE plants provide heat mainly to local customers. This is due to the specificity of the product, which, unlike electrical energy, is unprofitable in a long-distance transfer. Bielsko-Biała Group of Combined Heat and Power Plants sells heat to Bielsko-Biała and Czechowice-Dziedzice; Katowice Combined Heat and Power Plant – to Katowice and Siemianowice; Łagisza Power Plant – to Będzin and Dąbrowa Górnicza; Jaworzno III Power Plant- to Jaworzno and Mysłowice; Łaziska Power Plant – to Łaziska and Mikołów; Halemba Power Plant to Ruda Śląska; Siersza Power Plant to Trzebinia; Blachownia Power Plant to Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Some other heat producers also operate in these towns.

Currently, our heat rates will be valid by the end of April 2006. They have not been changed since the last heating season. It is worth mentioning that a year ago Katowice Combined Heat and Power Plant and Łagisza Power Plant already reduced their prices by approximately 5%. Still, it has to be noted that – apart from customers who buy heat directly from PKE plants – the prices on heat bills will be determined by distributors who provide heat to plants and houses. (pag)