EU country requests people to limit clothing washing

Polish households have been urged to refrain from using washing machines and electric heaters in the evening to avoid straining the power supply. PSE, a state-owned firm and sole operator of Poland's national grid, has designated 6pm to 9pm "peak energy hours" and is asking households to switch off unnecessary lighting, reduce the temperature of electric heaters, and avoid the use of "energy-intensive devices" like washing machines, kettles, microwaves and ovens. This is the latest attempt by the Polish government to reduce its citizens' energy consumption since Warsaw imposed sanctions on Moscow and cut itself off from Russian energy imports. Poland has been one of the most fervent backers of Kiev in Europe, and was one of the first to ban the import of Russian fossil fuels. However, household energy prices in Poland doubled between February and September of last year before the government intervened in October to cap prices.

Inflation reached a 16-year high of 18.4% last month, according to state figures. Poland's state railway company raised prices in January to account for higher energy costs, while local authorities switched off street lighting and have been closing public buildings early over the winter.