KEDS: Sʹka power reductions

The Kosovar Company for Distribution and Electricity Supply, KEDS has said the country is not facing reductions of electricity.

KED spokesman Viktor Buzhala, explains that power outages are caused due to technical deterioration and bad weather.

“As you know, KEDS has inherited an old power grid, and as a result, electricity grid destruction is impossible to fully avoid”, he says.

Fortunately, almost never does problems occur in those locations where KEDS has already invested to improve the network. For this reason, the company continues to invest every year in all of Kosovo to switch the old network to a modern” network, Buzhala adds.

During yesterday, KED reportedly has been mobilised to ensure stable electricity supplies during the winter season.

Last weekend, two Kosovo municipalities -- Fushe Kosova and Suhareka -- have faced several hours' lack of energy, which sparked the response of citizens of these municipalities. But, according to Buzhala, temporary power cuts have been necessary because of net interventions. The break-up in Suhareka was made at COSTT's request, because this company had planned works, while in Fushe Kosovo due to the deployment of an additional division at the 35/10 kV substation to avoid overloading.

“In both cases consumers have been announced in advance through the media. So it's just about necessary online interventions that cause several hours off. We can't work on high tension, and that's why we're also looking for understanding from citizens”, he says.

Weeks ago, even the Energy Regulatory Office, sir. RRE, had asked KEDS not to make electricity reductions, except in those cases when interventions are necessary.

Buzhala mentions another problem that they have been facing for a long time.

According to him, net losses, which also occur because of the illegal locks on unconscious consumers, weigh the situation down.

And those very locations where greater energy misuse is faced with interference because the network cannot afford overload. We've appealed many times to the authorities to do more in this regard. We identify thousands of cases a year of abuses, but even courts have to carry out their play”, Buzhala says.

On Monday, Kosovo broke its electricity consumption record. Amateurs and businesses have consumed nearly 20,000 megavats of energy within 24 hours of that day. Currently, the country imports some of the electricity, since domestic production does not satisfy the entire need for consumption.