Energy abusers influence responsible consumers' bills

Near one third of the energy sent for the expense remains unfathomable because of misuse, while the financial burden is also carried to regular consumers in the country.

The Office of Energy Regulatory, ZRE, which is the authority for setting energy tariffs on annual bases, explains that tariffs are allocated on the basis of social, environmental, health, and consumer price sustainability.

But, in addition, the ZRE takes into account the expenses and investments made by the energy sector actors, such as licensed KEDS, KESCO, KEK, COSTT, as well as ZRE's own balance, which are periodically analysed.

ZRE examines tariffs each year, so that the amount of money (Permissioned Maximum Enteres) can be determined MAR, which arranged companies are allowed to collect for service delivery.

“MAR is determined... by thoroughly analyzing the expenses and investments that companies plan to achieve during the regulatory period”, he had clarified the ZRE long ago.

MAR's “Nivel is set to the extent that companies are allowed to cover reasonable costs”, said Adelina Murtezay Bayram, official of the Regulatory Office.

It is estimated that citizens who illegally lock on the power grid benefit from weak rule of law because even in cases of identity of illegal keys, they cannot be interrupted until the outcome of the court processes.

At times, judicial processes last years until a decision is made.

The most problematic districts in Kosovo based on data provided by sources within the energy sector are considered to be Peja, Pristina, and Gjakova, where net losses reach up to 30 per cent.

However, because of political circumstances, in the Serb-run northern part, energy spent is not at all billed.

The current level of net losses is nearly double the rate allowed by ZRE.