Electricity prices to rise significantly in 2009

Electricity prices are expected to grow by up to 16 percent in 2009, according to the head of the Energy Regulation Board Josef Fiřt. Households which get their power supplies from the south Bohemian power giant CEZ or the power distributor Pražská Energetika can expect a 9.9 percent increase as of January, but clients of the firm E.ON may see prices grow by as much as 16.4 percent. The pending price rise is triggered by weaker economic growth, inflation and investments into development.