Government Promises Device Inspections. "Dramatically High Bills for Thousands of Poles"

• In May 2024, after a series of alarming signals, the government promised inspections of heat pumps.
• - There was talk about the verification of parameters, as well as the consequences for importers of devices that do not meet the standards - PiS MPs remind in an interpellation to the Ministry of Climate.
• - More than a year has passed, but currently there are no results, no controls, and no one responsible for this state of affairs - the parliamentarians emphasize.

On 23 June this year, Law and Justice MP Paweł Sałek, on behalf of a group of MPs from this group, submitted an interpellation to the Minister of Climate, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, regarding the inspection of heat pumps co-financed under the government's "Clean Air" programme.

- The "Clean Air" program was a response to the needs of Polish families and was intended to help heat homes, improve air quality and give people real support on the path to energy efficiency - the MPs emphasize in the interpellation.

- Today, this program under the rule of the "December 13 coalition" means disappointment, frustration and dramatically high electricity bills for thousands of Poles - say Law and Justice MPs.

The authors of the interpellation recall that in May 2024, the government - after a series of alarming signals - promised inspections of heat pumps . There was talk of verifying parameters, as well as the consequences for importers of devices that do not meet the standards, and more than a year has passed.

Currently , there are no results, no controls, and no people responsible for this state of affairs . What's more, it was this government that allowed foreign quality marks to be included in the program, despite numerous appeals and warnings from experts about the questionable quality of such pumps and their inadequacy for Polish weather conditions. There are many indications that people have been misled, and the government remains silent.

- MP Paweł Sałek points out in his interpellation.

Together with a group of PiS MPs, the parliamentarian asked the Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, to answer several questions - among others, how many heat pumps not adapted to Polish weather conditions have currently been installed under the "Clean Air" program?

- How many heat pumps currently admitted to the Polish market do not meet the parameters after the decision of Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska? How does the Ministry of Climate and Environment verify heat pumps that are admitted to funding under the "Clean Air" program? - these are the next questions from opposition MPs to the head of the Ministry of Climate.

Heat pumps are devices that extract heat energy from the air or ground and transfer it to a home heating system. The popularity of pumps among consumers is influenced by the possibility of reducing heating costs.

The topic of controlling the quality of these devices is not new. Let us recall that such inspections were carried out in 2024 by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection together with the Trade Inspection and the National Revenue Administration .

At that time , 564 heat pumps manufactured outside the European Union were checked to prevent devices that did not meet the requirements from appearing on the market.

Experts examined 36 heat pump models, and as many as 94 percent of them did not meet formal requirements. - Thanks to a joint project by UOKiK, IH and KAS, we stopped 463 heat pumps at the border that did not meet the applicable safety requirements . Ultimately, 101 pumps were approved for sale - 62 of which after corrective actions, e.g. supplementing the documentation - UOKiK informed in June 2024.

UOKiK also indicated that when buying such devices, you should check the data on the energy efficiency label and product card. - You will find them on the product and on the seller's website - they will help you choose a product that suits your needs - advises UOKiK.

It also recommends that customers make sure that the label includes details of the supplier, i.e. the manufacturer or importer ; this will facilitate any possible legal claims in the event of a device failure.

- Enter the name of the model you are interested in in the EPREL database, i.e. in the European product register for energy labeling purposes . In the category of space heaters/multifunctional heaters you will find additional information. Report irregularities in the labeling of heat pumps to the Trade Inspection - we read in the recommendations of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment has until 15 July this year to respond to the parliamentary question regarding heat pumps.