The Energy Regulatory Office (ZRRE) has effectively dashed hopes for the suspension of the recently approved electricity price hike, as requested by the Ombudsperson.
Despite stating that a formal response to the request has not been given yet, ZRRE officials clarified that decisions made by the Board of the institution are final and cannot be suspended by any other public authority. According to Article 26 of the Energy Regulatory Law (Nr. 05/L-084), ZRRE’s board decisions have immediate effect and are not subject to review, suspension, or veto by any other public body unless they undergo judicial review.
ZRRE also stated that they are reviewing the Ombudsperson’s request to assess its claims and compliance with the legal framework, and will provide an official response.
The Ombudsperson had requested that the electricity price increase of 16.1% be suspended until investigations into multiple citizen complaints are completed. The Ombudsperson’s office pointed out the institutional void at the time of the decision, with neither a Constitutional Assembly nor a mandated government, which led to a lack of necessary public and institutional debates on such critical issues for citizens.
This decision came on the heels of a ZRRE ruling on April 16, increasing electricity prices by 16.1% for all consumer categories.
