Energy is no longer the exclusive domain of engineers and politicians; it is becoming the foundation of the business strategy of any company that wants to remain competitive. And 2026 will see a multitude of legislative changes that will fundamentally alter the current approach to the rules for grid connection, energy trading and reporting obligations.
Is your organisation ready for the upcoming regulatory changes? If not, you may be interested in the Energy Radar 2026, which offers comprehensive support in analysing and implementing new regulations. Milena Kazanowska-Kędzierska, a legal advisor and energy law expert, will be discussing the key issues.
Why is 2026 a pivotal year for the Polish energy sector?
The energy transition is entering its ‘operational’ phase.
Draft laws, including UC84, UC118, UD284 and UD332, are specific legislative instruments designed to unlock and maximise the potential of the Polish power grid. They provide for changes to grid connection rules, streamlined investment processes and increased power system flexibility, among other things. The aim of these regulations is therefore to promote the integration of new generation sources, improve energy supply security, and boost the efficiency of the national energy infrastructure.
The five pillars of Polish energy reform: What businesses need to know
The key areas that may shape future energy sector strategies and business decisions include:
The UC84 draft law marks the beginning of a new era for connections
The new regulations eliminate the long wait for connection conditions to be issued. The legislature emphasises increasing the system’s flexibility and introducing mechanisms to counteract speculative activities:
- Cable pooling 2.0 enables a single connection to be shared between a wind farm, a photovoltaic power plant, and an energy storage facility. This will result in significant infrastructure cost savings
- Flexible connection agreements enable you to operate your installation, even in areas where the grid is overloaded, by agreeing to temporary restrictions on energy feed-in
- No more capacity blocking – if an investor fails to meet the milestones, their connection conditions will expire after just one year. This creates an opportunity for active market participants to make effective use of available resources.
- Flexibility and acceleration of project implementation – the possibility of commencing operation of an installation during the transition period, before the network is fully expanded, accelerates the implementation of investments and reduces barriers related to local capacity constraints.
The market, the exchange obligation (UD284 draft law) and transparent rules of play in energy exchange
- The exchange obligation is being reinstated, meaning that the vast majority of energy (80%) and gas (85%) will be traded on the exchange. What will this mean in practice? In principle, greater price transparency and a reduced risk of unclear transactions within large groups of companies
- Compensation for disconnections – if the network operator orders a reduction in production (‘redispatch’), the new regulations provide mechanisms to compensate for lost profits. This ensures that investors receive an appropriate settlement resulting from the suspension or reduction of energy production
Development of RES and prioritisation of stable sources (UC118 and UD332 draft laws)
- Procedural simplifications, such as introducing maximum deadlines for issuing administrative decisions and digitising applications
- Special treatment for biogas – biogas installations will be the last to be disconnected and will have guaranteed connection capacity. This increases production stability and investment security, while highlighting the development potential of this technology in the food industry and agriculture, where it can be most beneficial
Your guide to change
Milena Kazanowska-Kędzierska is an expert who bridges the gap between EU regulations and the reality of the Polish market. She specialises in providing comprehensive advice to the renewable energy, gas and heating sectors, and her experience includes:
- Strategic regulatory consulting: Building business models based on energy law
- Representation before the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (URE): Matters of concessions, DSO status, tariffs and administrative penalties
- Support for infrastructure projects: From advising on connection conditions to handling transactions and implementing investment projects.
Why is it worth following Energy Radar 2026?
A significant number of regulatory changes are expected this year, so it will be worthwhile keeping an eye on the legal situation. Early preparation can help you to:
- Identify opportunities and pinpoint areas where the new law will allow you to save or earn more
- Minimise risks, including avoiding URE penalties and connection problems
- Plan investments, also considering which technologies (storage, biogas, cable pooling) will receive the most regulatory support
Would you like to know how a particular draft law would affect your current investment portfolio? Contact us
