Ymer Fejzullahu, Chairman of the Board of the Regulatory Authority for Energy (ZRRE), has defended the proposed 15% increase in electricity prices. He explained that this increase is entirely based on global inflation.
Fejzullahu noted that despite three years of rising energy prices, Kosovo still ranks among the countries with the cheapest electricity rates.
He emphasized that the price hike is necessary to cover the costs of electricity imports, which either must be paid by consumers or subsidized by the government.
“If a consumer has been paying around 50 euros for energy, after the tariff increase, they will pay about 58 euros—an increase of at least 8 euros. Businesses will face different rates,” Fejzullahu stated on T7.
Regarding the citizen initiative “Not a Cent More,” which opposes the price hike, Fejzullahu acknowledged the citizens’ concerns but emphasized that adjusting tariffs was unavoidable.
“If there are protests or civil disobedience, there will be power cuts, because no supplier can cover these costs. There is no alternative other than adjusting tariffs. Citizens who cannot afford the bills should apply for subsidies through the Ministry of Finance,” he added.
Fejzullahu also explained that local energy production capacities have remained unchanged, while energy prices have increased due to inflation, particularly in the past two years. The cost of domestically produced energy is 30 euros, while imported energy costs 150 euros.
“To cover this gap, we either have to adjust prices or face power cuts. After considering both options, we decided it’s better to import energy than face outages,” Fejzullahu concluded.
Citizens and stakeholders have until March 28 to submit their comments regarding the proposed electricity tariff increase.
