Elektrosever violates terms set by deal

Elektrosever, too, has not yet signed the necessary technical agreements with KEDS and COST to operate on the Kosovo market for energy.

These obligations come from the 2013 Energy Agreement Implementation Guide, which Kosovo and Serbia have agreed to on June 21st.

As a result of these obligations, the Elektrosever company was licensed by the Kosovo Energy Regulatory Office (ZRRE) 24 June.

This company will make both the supply and the billing of the spent electricity in northern Kosovo, the Serb-run area.

It is owned by Serbia's energy company, EPS (Electroprivreda Srbije), but in Kosovo it is founded with Kosovo laws.

Eletrover “currently without clients”
In the guide that has been made public by the European Union's special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, it is said that within seven days of issuing the license, Elektrosever will provide KEDS and COST's latest data to consumers under EU mediation.

The guide also specifys that “7 days after issuing a supply license”, Elektrossever will sign technical agreements with KEDS and COST.

In a written statement about Radio Free Europe, EPS says the license Elektrosever received from ZRGE “is currently not functional” and that “company currently does not have clients”. More details are not provided.

COMM STT: Elektrosever didn't send the data within the deadline
That he hasn't received the consumer data yet, so COST itself confirms.

In a statement to Radio Free Europe, this transmission operator says the electronicsever company has failed to comply with the second point of Energy Agreement Implementation Guide.

COMM The STT adds that the necessary technical agreements “were signed” on its part, “in line with the standard forms of these agreements, approved by ZRE” and that those “were sent for signature to Elektrswetri, in the set deadline under the” guide.

However, we have not yet accepted the same signed by the Elektrosever company. We are awaiting confirmation from the Elektrosever” supplier, reports COST response.

Radio Free Europe has also sent questions to KEDS on this issue, but until the publication of this text, no answers have been received.

The REL has also turned to the Government of Kosovo with the question of what follows the disregard of the deadlines from Elektroseveri, but has not received answers.

From the EU, as mediator of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, they say they expect the two sides to adhere to agreed-on steps and implement them at the right time”.

“The EU, too, calls on both sides to make progress in all other unresolved affairs related to implementation [of the agreement]”, is said in a statement by the EU Office for Foreign Policy and Security, sent to the REL.

Elektrosver tariffs not subject to ERE approval
In the statement EPS has given him The REL also says that Elektrosever “has been licensed for commercial supply” in Kosovo and that “can set its own prices” for consumers.

From the Kosovo Energy Regulatory Office confirm that Elektrosever, under its license, can set the price itself.

“Tarifat, with which Elektrossever will fatten consumers, will not be subject to ZRRE approval”, this office says.

According to her, the ZERE's approval subject is only the tariffs companies set for public service, in this case the Kosovo Power Supply Company (KESCO).

ZERE adds that Elektrosever “will be obliged to implement tariffs for the use of transmission network and tariffs for use of the distribution network, as approved by ZRE”.

Where can the electronicsever be supplied?
EPS says Elektrosever “can buy electricity in the market, either from the founder, or from the EPS itself”.

The fact that there is not enough energy in Kosovo is known and that it is imported, especially in winter”, EPS says.

Fadil Ismaili, former Minister of Economic Development of Kosovo, claims that Elektrosever has licenses for commercial supply and that at the market it can buy electricity from any supplier. But, he adds, in view that Elektrosever should be subject to COSTT and KED's tariffs for the use of the transmission network and the use of the distribution network, then it is questioned whether prices offered to consumers will be affordable or not.

“means prices will be three or four times more expensive in the north than around [the rest of Kosovo]... Normally, it won't happen like that. Of course they will need to make a scheme of them, and I'm doubting that they will receive energy from Serbia”, Ismaili says.

Since 1999, after the end of the war in Kosovo, in the country's four northern municipalities -- Leposaviq, Zubin Potok, North Mitrovica and Zvecan -- citizens have not been billed with electricity spending and they have not paid.

By 2017, the debt for northern Kosovo has been paid to citizens of other Kosovo municipalities. Their bills have been higher by 3.5 percent.

However, following numerous complaints, the Court of Appeals in Kosovo has decided in late 2017 about the suspension of this practice, arguing it is illegal.

This decision was later confirmed by the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, and the payment has been passed to KOSTT, which is Kosovo's public company.

The Energy Agreement Implementation Guide would have to mark the closure chapter of the cost coverage by COSTT, respectively, subsidies shared by the Government of Kosovo.

But, according to Ismaili, if the prices that will bill Elektrosever in the future will be unaffordable for citizens in the north, such a thing can open Serbia's way to cover those expenses.

“I don't know how to stop, if they want to [do this]”, Ismaili says.

Citizens in other parts of Kosovo outside the north face the most expensive electricity tariffs, which Mr. The HR in the wake of an energy crisis in the world. The extension, however, has affected only those consumers who spend over 800 kilowatts an hour, within a month.