Ombudsman: ZERE decision to exclude northern consumers from new energy tariffs is discriminatory

Ombudsman estimates Z decision RHRA has elements of discrimination and uneven treatment of consumers.

Various, energy-based tariffs at the level of electricity consumption are contrary to Article 47 of Law No. 05L-084 for the Energy Regulatory, where emphasising the necessity for tariffs to have non-discriminatory characters. The ZERE's decision to exclude northern Kosovo consumers from the price of electricity creates a situation of discrimination in the rest of consumers. Also, subvention among fixed consumer categories also sets Z The HR in a discriminated position. The decision on retroactive fating and not reflecting it on bills as well as non-reflecting the level of subsidisation in the bill also constitutes violation of consumer rights for information. The affirmative measures imposed in the ZERE decision do not make all consumers equally happy at regulated prices, and expensiveness does not affect all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo equally. The ZER's decision on price expensive energy, the introduction of tariffs, and the decision to also subsidise selectively conflict with the principles of setting tariffs outlined in local legislation, with Energy Community legislation in Vienna, and contrary to the Law's provisions for Consumer Protection. The ombudsman deems it necessary for the Kosovo government to institute the consumer fund in need. The newly warned package of energy legislation clearly define the energy poverty limit and connect it to family revenues so that support for vulnerable consumers can be stable, dynamic and reflect their socioeconomic situation without discrimination. Division based on consumer level must be removed and Z THREE in co-operation with Government, Energy Efficiency Agency and the Efficiency Fund find other mechanisms to raise awareness or promote efficiency without limits to consumer levels and the difference of prices for the use of a resource that must be paid for the spending unit, not for its volume”, is said in the communique.

The ombudsman deems it necessary that the whole process of determining the tariff structure and the height of tariffs be restored to zero and that any future process be followed by the principles of non-ethnic or regional discrimination and consumer equality in the regulated market.