Return of the ‘oblige’ means energy will be cheaper again. For those unfamiliar with it, the ‘oblige’ is the obligation to sell energy wholesale (by producers) on the free market (exchange), where all buyers have transparent access. The arrangement of energy concerns (both producers and trading companies – also trading energy in retail) allows for “internal trading”, which gives many opportunities and market advantages, especially for those with many generating units. For this reason, the obligation to direct energy to the exchange was born. And this is where the Polish history of the obligation begins – and above all … always the justification that energy will now be cheaper. 2007 the obligation was introduced (initially 15% of the volume), then extended to 100% for state-owned companies (2010). In 2013, this obligation was limited to 30%. Still, in 2018, it was triumphantly announced that we were returning to 100% obligation and … that energy would be cheaper (this was a time when raw materials and emission certificates had already started to rise in price – something had to be invented – the obligation was reintroduced – although even then long-term contracts within state-owned companies were hidden and maintained). In 2022, the stock exchange obligation was abolished… why? Prices skyrocketed (war in Ukraine, expensive raw materials), and the abolition of the obligation was supposed to reduce customer prices. Now (2025), there is talk of a return on the obligation because… the energy price has to be reduced again. Of course, if we want free trade, there should be a 100% obligation, but then it would be boring. Therefore, as in the old joke, you can stir a little into the tea (without sugar) with a spoon to make the tea sweeter. So we eagerly and enthusiastically welcome the return of the obligor (only to abolish it again in a year) and, as always … to lower energy prices. 

Nuclear power – will the Americans work … on the notebook?

It turned out that the nuclear power project was going so quickly and precisely that the contract to finance the design work for its construction had ended. Because of this, it seemed that American companies (suppliers and investors) would have to work “on a notebook”. Probably during the negotiations, it turned out that our American partners did not understand that you have to start “work on a notebook”, and therefore, they could not “thank you from the mountain”. A “pier agreement” was quickly drawn up, and then “we are paying in the dark for something”. The power plant will be built (?) in about 10 years, and it is not known whether there is anything left to design and pull along the contract (“pull long the contract”).

Trump strikes tariffs – so back to customs barriers at city limits …

The global economy has just collapsed, but long live the customs economy. The American President, surrounded by enthusiastic spectators in red caps, showed a large table indicating how much duty each country would receive. The economy reacted enthusiastically. The world stock markets went wild. Companies in all countries are happy that market protection is finally returning, and they no longer have to compete with their competitors’ products. The concept quickly spreads to city and bridge tolls in other provinces and large metropolitan areas. Warsaw moves the historic tollgates to the end of Jerozolimskie Avenue and hires more city guards to collect the tolls (concept: 0.5 to 1 grosz prairie as in the Middle Ages for entry and 10% of the value of goods). The public thanks the government for the rapid doubling of prices and also receives higher taxes as a gift. They are necessary anyway because some unintelligent and unprogressive liberals are hiding in the woods and fighting for free trade by attacking government transports of collected customs duties (so-called Robin Hood gangs), which makes it necessary to expand the police force and systematic surveillance. The new economic model is becoming widespread. 

Elon Musk is a serious candidate for Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 2028…

After a setback in e-sports and a wave of undeserved hate (Musk hired professional gamers and presented their results as his own), Elon Musk showed his face in “normal” sports and announced his desire to join the US Olympic team. Musk’s coaching team showed the first results of their protégé after a series of intensive training sessions – 6.5 seconds for 100 meters, 10.25 meters in the long jump and over 22 meters in the triple jump. He was immediately nominated for the US national team (although the CEO of the US Olympic Committee, Sarah Hirshland, protested; she no longer works there due to a decision by the US Supreme Court). Elon is considered the most serious candidate for Olympic gold in 2028, especially since, with the help of certain subsidies, world sports organizations are considering accepting new US proposals such as the possibility of paying for the “bypass” another competitor in races (Musk offers 1 million for each competitor and the same amount for each federation) or a mandatory concept of “handicaps” (other competitors will have to jump in the long jump with a 100 kg sack on their backs). 

Bolesław Chrobry or Bolesław Wstydliwy on Polish banknotes…

Bolesław Chrobry is the favourite king in Polish history books. He was the successor to Mieszko I and created a regional kingdom based on aggressive armed forces and plundering expeditions. His reign was a period of constant wars and invasions, which made it possible to create historical maps with large areas of Poland coloured in. He conquered both Misnia and Lusatia (for about 29 years after the wars with Germany), he conquered Kyiv (temporarily, fighting against Kyivan Rus, plundering the city and the legend of Szczerbiec), and then Prague (one year). The crowning glory of this powerful state was the coronation in 1025 and the death in the same year. When we paint the big picture of conquests, we usually forget about the years that followed. Bolesław’s son, Mieszko II, did not maintain his power, and Poland fell victim to a wave of invasions from all its former neighbours. The long-term consequence was the total destruction of the state, followed by a great popular uprising (destruction of Christianity and centres of state power and a return to pagan deities). There was a real threat that Poland would disappear from the world map altogether, but fortunately, it was miraculously revived by Casimir the Restorer. For the people at that time, the reign of Chrobry was characterized by constant militarization, conscription, tax burdens, fiscal oppression and poverty, and the privilege of a small caste of armed forces who benefited from the spoils of war. The almost complete opposite of Bolesław Chrobry was Bolesław Wstydliwy (1226-1279). He was only a prince (after the fragmentation of Poland into several principalities). Still, he focused not on wars but on internal order, the construction of defensive castles, and the promotion of science and education (monasteries). He was also not a typical “virile” representative of medieval rulers; on the contrary – he owes the nickname “The Shy” (in the Middle Ages, not necessarily as pejorative as today) to his unconsummated marriage to the princess (originally from Hungary) Kinga, which was the result of either his different sexual orientation or extreme religious abstinence (historians argue about this). In the context of the times, his 41-year reign was an astonishing period of peace and economic development of the country, and Kinga (actually St. Kinga) is credited in the legend with bringing salt to Poland (at that time, the Bochnia and Wieliczka mines were established, providing a basis for a steady income for the treasury). Bolesław Chrobry is on the Polish banknote (admittedly only the 20 zloty note), and there are constant calls for us to stop celebrating the round anniversary of his coronation so solemnly. Bolesław the Bashful cannot count on anything. And you – which period would you choose to be an ordinary citizen in Poland? 

Renewable energy outages in March, April, May… It’s great that we don’t have a nuclear power plant. The sun is shining more often (that’s our climate), and we are entering a repetitive spiral of regulated RES access to the grid – i.e., halting the production of solar power plants (we keep coal-fired power plants running so they can spread their wings after sunset). The scheme of limiting production (and paying for it) is repeated yearly and intensifies with the arrival of the summer months, becoming a Polish energy tradition. Thank goodness for the wisdom of the Polish energy transformation that no nuclear power plant has been built since 2009. It would be a shame if dates such as 2022, 2023, and 2025 (the first energy from a nuclear block) were to be met. It would be a shame to have something to hold back.