KEDS Begins Disconnecting Around 450 Businesses from Kosovo’s Power Grid

RksNews
RksNews 2 Min Read
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The Kosovo Electricity Distribution Company (KEDS) announced on Saturday that it has started disconnecting approximately 450 businesses from the power grid due to the expiration of the deadline for these companies to sign agreements with alternative energy suppliers.

The warning had been issued on August 13 by the Energy Regulatory Office of Kosovo (ZRRE), following a decision by the Second Commercial Court that upheld the regulator’s authority, rejecting requests to delay the liberalization of the electricity market.

According to KEDS, 600 meters will be disconnected remotely, while the rest will be physically disconnected at company locations, with teams already mobilized across Kosovo.

Market Liberalization in Effect

The ZRRE’s decision to liberalize the energy market came into force on June 1, 2025. Under the new rules:

  • Companies with more than 50 employees or annual turnover exceeding €10 million are required to switch to the open energy market.
  • To avoid disruption, businesses were temporarily supplied by the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) as the Supplier of Last Resort from June 1 to July 31.

Currently, Kosovo has 22 licensed energy trading companies, with three more in the licensing process, including KESCO and KEK.

By July 31, more than 250 private businesses had signed contracts with KESCO, while dozens of other requests remain pending.

Reactions and Context

The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Chamber of Kosovo expressed concern over the court ruling on Tuesday. The Economic Chamber announced plans to pursue further legal action.

The liberalization of the energy market in Kosovo was first outlined in the 2016 Electricity Law, but implementation was delayed due to various circumstances. In the European Union, market liberalization began in the late 1990s to increase competition, efficiency, security, and consumer choice, while in the Western Balkans, the process is still ongoing.