Network of Public Energy Experts: Transforming Energy Management in the Ústí Region

As part of the strategic project Transformation Centre of the Ústí Region (TCUK), a network of public energy professionals was established to support municipalities and cities in their energy transition. This network operates under the Energy Centre of the Ústí Region (ECUK), founded by the regional government in August 2022.
With seven dedicated energy experts—each responsible for an average of 50 municipalities (serving around 120,000 inhabitants)—the network provides free energy consultancy to local authorities. The initiative is 85% funded by the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and 15% co-financed by the Ústí Region.

Advancing Renewable Solutions and Energy Communities

Since its launch, the network has significantly enhanced energy awareness and management across the region. A total of 170 municipalities and cities have already accessed basic consultancy services, and 21 municipalities are now implementing the Regional Energy Management application, developed by ECUK in collaboration with the Data Centre of the Ústí Region (DCUK) and co-financed by the JTF. More municipalities now recognise the value of having dedicated energy specialists, with 18% of municipalities now employing their own energy specialist and another 16.5% considering hiring one. The number of municipalities with strategic energy documents has increased year-on-year from 6.9% to 16%, while interest in energy management applications has risen from 6.6% to 22.7%.

The deployment of renewable energy is also expanding. Currently, 16.5% of municipalities have installed renewable energy sources (RES), marking a 7.6% increase in just one year, while 55% of municipalities are considering installing RES. Additionally, 40% of municipalities are exploring energy storage solutions. A recent survey confirmed that the greatest interest among municipalities lies in the adoption of the Regional Energy Management application, followed by identifying energy efficiency measures for buildings and receiving guidance on energy planning and financing.

Beyond consultancy, the network also supports municipalities in developing energy community models, guiding them through shared energy solutions. Findings show that 23.1% of municipalities are considering adopting the “active customer” model, while 10% plan to establish energy communities.

In the Czech Republic, legislation defines two types of energy communities: Active Customers and Energy Communities. The Active Customer model consists of a small group limited to at least one production site and a maximum of 10 consumption sites. In contrast, an Energy Community can have up to 1,000 members.

Additionally, the network now provides specialised technical services, including network analysis to improve electrical distribution, adjust circuit breaker settings, and manage ongoing energy expenses, as well as thermal imaging to detect heat loss, enhance insulation, and evaluate window replacements.

Scaling Up: A Model for the Czech Republic

Given the success of the network in the Ústí Region, discussions are underway to expand this consulting model across the Czech Republic as part of the Consulting Reform (Component 7.3 of the National Recovery Plan – RRF). This would ensure long-term sustainability and financing while enabling other regions to replicate the approach. Already, several regions are following Ústí nad Labem’s lead by establishing their own energy agencies or organisations to support local energy transitions.

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!