Energy Act (No. 458/2000).

This Act provides regulates the energy sectors, including electricity, gas and heat (Sect. 1). The regulation of energy sectors means protection of customers and Licence Holders and securing reliable supplies of electricity gas and heat (Sect. 2). Licences shall be granted for a fixed period of time which shall not be shorter than 25 years, and shall relate to: (a) electricity generation; (b) gas production; (c) electricity transmission; (d) gas transportation; (e) electricity distribution; (f) gas distribution; (g) gas storage; (h) heat generation; (i) heat distribution (Sect. 4). Licensing conditions include: (a) age of 21 years or more; (b) full legal capacity; (c) probity; (d) professional competence (Sect. 5). The Licence shall be granted on the basis of a written application (Sect. 7). To secure reliable and efficient supply of electricity while protecting the environment, electricity market in the territory of the Czech Republic is based on free access to the transmission system and the distribution systems (Sect. 21). Renewable sources mean the following electricity sources: (a) hydraulic power up to the plant’s output of 10 MW; (b) solar energy; (c) wind energy; (d) geothermal energy; (e) biomass and biogas. Generators producing electricity from renewable sources shall enjoy the right of preferred connection of its electricity generating plant to the transmission system or the distribution systems for the purpose of electricity transmission system or distribution (Sect. 31). To secure reliable and efficient supply of gas while protecting the environment, the gas market in the territory of the Czech Republic shall be organised on the basis of agreed access to the transmission system and on the basis of regulated access to the distribution systems (Sect. 55).