The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has published its 2026 monitoring report on Projects of Common and Mutual Interest, revealing that the 400 kV electricity interconnector between the Czech Republic and Slovakia (PCI 2.7) has been rescheduled to a commissioning date of 31 October 2038, a delay of nearly three years from the previous target of 31 December 2035.
The project, promoted by Czech transmission system operator ČEPS and Slovak counterpart SEPS, is part of the NSI East Electricity priority corridor. According to the report dated 15 July 2026, the main reason for the rescheduling during the reporting period (20 October 2025 to 28 February 2026) is that the investment was still at an initial stage under studies, and the previous implementation plan was preliminary. Changes due to complementarity with other rescheduled transmission investments also contributed. The project's status in 2026 is listed as "planned but not yet in permitting," down from "under consideration" in 2025 when it was considered on time. Cost data shows inception CAPEX rising from €120.008 million in 2025 to €127.168 million in 2026, with annual OPEX estimated at €0.372 million. The project is not included in the relevant national development plan because its commissioning date lies beyond the plan's time span.
This delay affects EU energy interconnection targets and may impact cross-border electricity flows between the two member states. For project promoters ČEPS and SEPS, the extended timeline implies prolonged planning and potential cost escalation. EU consumers and energy markets face postponed access to additional transmission capacity, while national regulatory authorities must adjust their grid planning assumptions. The report underscores ongoing challenges in advancing key energy infrastructure projects within the EU's PCI framework.