Investigations begin for electricity bills in the north

The Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo (PSRK) has launched preliminary investigations over qualms about electricity bills for the northern part of the country.

The launch of the investigation has confirmed for “Justice Trust”, special prosecutor of PSRK's Ali Raj.

I've started preliminary investigations into the energy bills in the north. With the initiative I have authorized police to collect information about allegations raised in public”, prosecutor Rex2> has said of the Justice Vow “Justice Vow”.

He has not commented more at this stage, as according to him, he still expects information to assess later whether there is sufficient basis for launching criminal investigations. I'm awaiting the necessary information for which I've issued authorization to police”, the prosecutor Rexha added.

Otherwise, the ombudsman's Office under official office had initiated investigations concerning the illegal billing of electricity spent in the north, since the ZRRE had never informed citizens that they were paying the flow spent in the north.

The ombudsman had found that around 8m euros within the year had been spent by municipalities in northern Kosovo, mainly inhabited by Serb majority, while the costs of this energy had been billed to the rest of Kosovo citizens.

On this matter the ombudsman had sent questions to the ERE, of which he had acknowledged that the agreed decision stipulates the level of reducing energy losses in the entire territory of Kosovo, including municipalities in the north.

With regard to all of the ombudsman's findings, Mr. RRE, Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The ombudsman had recommended that the relevant institutions urgently stop the illegal electricity practice spent in the north and that the Government of Kosovo, Z RRE and KEDs find alternative ways of billing, not violating the rights of Kosovo citizens.

For this problem, the Ombudsman, in April of this year, had initiated investigations by sending the subject to court as well. In addition to the Pristina Foundation Court, the Court of Appeals, in November of this year, had suspended the ERE ruling, which forced citizens through energy bills to pay for the current they do not spend themselves but spent in the north of the country. After that decision, citizens will pay 3.5% less on their bills, as it is estimated, the average amount of payment made by a consumer for the spent current in the north is 5 euros.

Meanwhile, in April the decision on new electricity tariffs is expected to be made, while by then the current paid in that part will make the Government of Kosovo through the state budget.