03.02.2010
Natural gas
Slovenia depends entirely on importing natural gas. In 2007, as much as 50 per cent of gas was imported from Russia, 30 per cent from Algeria, and 19 per cent from Austria. The connections of the Slovenian pipelines with the neighbouring countries of Italy, Austria and Croatia are one of the advantages of Slovenia’s geographical position and ensure reliable gas supplies. The new pipelines – the Russia-backed Southstream across the Black Sea to the Balkans and the EU-backed plan for Nabucco linking Central Europe with the Caspian basin is a guarantee of no disruption in countries downstream including Slovenia.
The distribution of natural gas is an optional local public service. It is provided by the gas distribution system operators operating the distribution networks of individual local communities.
The market for natural gas
In Slovenia the participants of the natural-gas market include the traders and suppliers delivering natural gas to customers.
The opening of the natural-gas market presents the option to choose the supplier of natural gas. A customer can choose any gas supplier offering its service in the market irrespective of the customer’s distribution network, or the customers place of residence, or the location of the building supplied with natural gas. End customers can switch their suppliers of natural gas, but cannot switch the system operators of the distribution networks to which they are connected.
The Slovenian network of gas transmission pipelines
- Source: Geoplin
Distribution networks for natural gas
The distribution system operators provide the optional public service of operating individual distribution networks. The gas distribution system operators own, or operate, gas pipelines with a nominal pressure of less than 16 bar.
Connecting to the gas network
The customers wishing to connect to a gas distribution network have to obtain a connection approval from the distribution system operator in the area in which they live, or in which the building requiring a network connection is located.
Prices of natural gas in Slovenia
The wholesale price of natural gas in Slovenia is lower than the average price in Western Europe. The final price for the supply with natural gas consists of three elements:
- the price for the use of the networks (the network charge and the supplements to the network charge): The network charge is part of the use-of-network price that a customer of natural gas pays for the access to the network. These supplements cover the costs for the Energy Agency´s operation, the release of the long-term transmission capacities for natural gas, and the costs of suppliers resulting from the continuity of the energy supply.
- the price for the natural gas: Each supplier, by itself, sets the structure of its price for natural gas, which largely depends on the conditions in the international markets and the supply conditions that the supplier has to observe when doing business with the trader, i.e., the wholesale supplier. The supplier also independently sets the tariff system for setting the price for the natural gas as a part of the final price for the supply with natural gas.
- the excise duties, the value-added tax, and other taxes.
Natural gas prices by standard consumers for industry (EUR/GJ; exclusive of taxes), half-yearly
Standard consumer: annual consumption of 41 860 GJ = 1 107 000 Sm3 (GCV)
- Note: Prices of natural gas include all taxes. In accordance with the legislation in force, a CO2 tax and excise duty is added to the prices for the supply of natural gas. Final price includes VAT (20%).
Water distribution and sewage collection and disposal
The public services of the supply with water intended for human consumption (drinking water) and collection and disposal of waste water and meteoritic waters is carried out by public companies on the basis of authorities granted by local communities. These mandatory economic services are operated by using the public infrastructure under their management.
For every new services (utility) connection or a modification to the existing one it is necessary to apply to the operator of the service for approval. The approval to connect to the service is issued on the basis of a previously prepared house connection drawing made by the public company against a fee.
Prices for water and sewage services for business entities in the largest municipalities, January 2008
- Source: selected municipalities
Charges for drinking water service
The quantity of water used is the basis for billing consumers on a monthly basis. In addition, the charge for the water service and the network charge are included in the bill based on the scale of the water meter plus the value-added tax (VAT).
Charging water and sewer fees
Sewage fee is also charged on the basis of the water supplied. On top of the base fee for collection, treatment and discharge, the environment load tax and VAT are added.
Charges for services provided to industrial customers
The methodology for the collection and separation and purification of industrial effluents/waste water, processing of liquid waste and sludge is adjusted to the profile of the industrial consumer. Industrial customers are entities discharging over 4,000 m3 of effluent/waste water annually and/or are payers of the fee for monitor industrial waste water due to the nature of their activity. Industrial effluent/waste water means additional load on municipal waste water (sewage) treatment plants. Public companies enter into contracts with industrial customers to collect and treat effluents/industrial waste water and the charge for this waste water service is calculated in line with the approved methodology for a particular public company.
Waste management
Rising incomes and population growth are putting pressure on water supplies and generating more waste. Authorities are having difficulties trying to meet demand for water and manage municipal and industrial waste water.
The public service of disposing of waste is carried out by companies on the basis of authorisations granted by local communities.
Charges for disposal of municipal waste
Municipal wastes (household waste and similar commercial, industrial and institutional wastes) including separately collected fractions. According to the United Nations, some 50 million tonnes of electronic goods (e-waste) are discarded every year and the EU’s WEEE directive (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) aims to ensure that e-waste does not end up in landfill (producer take-back law).
Disposal of discharge of solid waste is billed on the basis of quantity (usually in cubic metres - m3) of waste in by taking into account the number of disposals per month. For the companies producing hazardous waste, special regulations apply. When Slovenia became a full-fledge member of the European Union, its legislation governing the environment protection had to be fully compliant with the EU legislation including special waste and dangerous substances management. Every small, medium-sized and large enterprise that engages in a specific activity where waste dumped without taking special measures could harm the environment, must take adequate waste management steps.
