PDK against electricity price hike: Government not burden Kosovo families' pocket

Stavileci, saying that a little over a decade of state, the government is installing inequality and discrimination and is consciously turning the country into subsidies to tariffs and reductions, has stressed that it is completely unfair and deeply discriminated against for 30% of consumers to carry the cost of 70% of other consumers.

This is expected to be the biggest electricity price increase in the country's history, and the PDK strongly opposes the move.

Blerand Stavilec's full speech:

The Democratic Party of Kosovo expresses the deepest concern about the situation created in our country, especially after proposals for expensive electricity, which will seriously hit the citizens of our country in the quality of regular consumers, households and businesses.

Our numerous warnings to the Government to take adequate steps to solve problems in time, so that there will be a safe supply of energy and there will be no price hikes, it has become reality today, and the proposed measures do not account for the economic situation of Kosovo families.

The proposal for increased energy tariffs after a serious economic period as a result of the pandemic, which is continuing to be such, even more severe, is one of the most severe shocks being done to the citizens of our country today, who, unfortunately and unjustly, will face the consequences of the biggest electricity expensive in Kosovo's history.

This increase would burden even more citizens' social well-being and social inequality, especially at the time when even all prices of primary consumer products have increased and this increase will continue with even greater chain effects.

Returning to the blockade is trying to shift the consumption point and stimulate savings, but at the same time this increase is being conveyed with a direct discrimination for consumers whose electricity is a single source of heating, and on the other hand, we are not seeing any measure of real support from the Government either in providing alternative resources or energy efficiency.

Otherwise, if maximum revenues allowed by 314 million euros have gone to 446 million euros, the system's additional cost is 132 million euros. Under the assumption that Government subsidies 75m euros then additional costs for hit consumers is 57m Euro or an average of 285 Euro over the current value of the annual bill.

Total real growth is 42%, but due to blockades, growth in consumers 800 and 1000 kW/h is 57% and 87%.

So we repeat that it is completely unfair and deeply discriminated against for 30% of consumers to carry the cost of raising the entire system or 70% of other consumers. And we actually have more than 50% to do with if the real environment where you live and work every day spending more than 600 kW/h a month.

Furthermore, this increase can address the needs for the cost of the system in the period ahead of us, but there is no answer for how current debts will be addressed between the sector parties, which exceed the figure of 100m euros. For more, today our KO transmission network STT, as the main pillar of supply security, is ahead of financial collapse.

The biggest virtue in all this confusion and uncertainty created by the Government is that this increase is not happening as a result of new investments in the function of supply security, but as a result of shifting our supply safety to the regional import market.

So, after a little over a decade of state, the government is turning us with full awareness to subsidizing tariffs and reductions. The government is installing inequality and discrimination.

According to the announced plans, the Government has pledged the sector's subsidisation for the coming period of about 75m euros, but in turn, we have no information about what the source of these tools will be, as we do not have such an initial position with the 2022 budget, even though the period in which the budget was drafted and adopted has been a period of the emerging and energy crisis from all counties.

We also have no transparency of how and what the distribution mechanism of this subsidy and monitoring implementation mechanism will be.

At the same time, we are not seeing any measures to help unregulated consumers (Trepca, Sharcemi, and Ferronikli), who are in serious condition, where thousands of families of workers are in danger of their future.

And, the most serious of all, in 1 years of government, we don't have the beginning of any capital project that would address the need for new generation capacities over the medium term, even in spite of the willingness of international donor agencies and financial institutions to support Kosovo in this respect, let alone talk about long-term sector vision.

Such an unconventional approach, irresponsible in the face of such major challenges in the sector, unfair and discriminated against citizens, families and businesses, unable to find solutions, is making the economic, social and health situation more difficult in our country.

So again we call on the Government to be responsible, to prove ability and competence, not injustice and discrimination, so that citizens can provide enough energy without rising prices.