On Wednesday, the Ministry of Economy appealed to citizens to conserve electricity, especially during certain hours of the day and night, as, according to them, the high load is threatening the electricity network and forcing power cuts in some areas.
The Kosovo Energy Supply Company (KESCO) sent messages to citizens on Tuesday, urging them to conserve electricity. “Dear consumers, high consumption is overloading our assets, risking their damage and power outages. Please, save energy,” the message from KESCO reads.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Economy reported that KOSTT (Transmission System Operator) and KEDS (Distribution System Operator) reported that electricity consumption levels had reached very high levels during a late-night meeting.
“KOSTT and KEDS report that, with the drop in temperatures, electricity consumption has reached very high levels, exceeding 1400 MW at certain times. As a result, our electrical energy system has been overloaded, causing technical difficulties in supply and endangering the network; consequently, it has been necessary for operators to disconnect some areas where the load was unbearable for the network. Difficulties have been especially observed in the municipalities of Ferizaj, Lipjan, Gjakova, Malisheva, Gjilan, Shtime, Istog, and Prizren, and as a result, some of the settlements supplied by the affected lines may have also been impacted. Meanwhile, KOSTT and KEDS teams are working tirelessly on the ground to minimize the impact on citizen supply,” the statement says.
Furthermore, the Ministry stated that similar issues had occurred in Fushë-Kosovë, “but with the energization of the new 110kV substation last week, the load has been greatly alleviated, and the supply issue for the residents of this municipality has been addressed.”
The Ministry also informed that the electricity issue is expected to be resolved in Ferizaj during the coming week, “when the construction of the third substation will be completed.”
“In the first quarter of 2025, additional investments are planned for the municipalities of Malisheva and Dragash with the aim of providing long-term solutions for sustainable energy supply. The end-of-year holiday period is typically characterized by a significant increase in electricity consumption, which is critical for supply security,” the statement continues.
The Ministry of Economy has appealed to citizens to conserve electricity, particularly during the morning hours from 09:00 – 12:00 and the afternoon hours from 18:00 to 00:00.
“Conserving energy during these hours is crucial to avoid overloading and to maintain the functionality of the system for everyone. We ask citizens, where possible, to use alternative heating sources such as wood or pellets, and to shift electricity consumption after midnight,” the statement concludes.
