Great dissatisfaction was reported regarding the bills for the last month of last year. Many citizens published them on social networks.
In December 2024, 2,298 kWh were consumed on this bill, while in the same month a year later, 3,570 kWh, which is 1,272 kWh more or 55% higher energy costs.
The bill in this case is not 55% higher, but it is 110% higher or 162 euros more.
There have also been complaints from citizens about drastic differences in bills from November to December 2025.
The Council for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms has also received a large number of complaints from Kosovo citizens, who report that electricity bills for December are over 70 percent higher compared to the previous month.
"The KMDLNJ assesses that this situation constitutes direct economic abuse and disproportionately burdens the budget of Kosovar families, deepening poverty and social insecurity," the reaction states.
On the other hand, KESCO excludes the possibility of price increases, but only until the end of March. However, it does not exclude it from April 1, when ERO will also analyze the bills.
“To avoid misunderstandings, it should be clearly stated that the current tariffs are in force until March 31, 2026, as defined in the tariff decision approved by ERO. ERO has not received any request from KEDS/KESCO for an extraordinary tariff review in December. Any claim for tariff increases in this period is speculation and is not based on any open process or regulatory decision. According to the regulatory framework in force, the tariff year in the electricity sector in Kosovo begins on April 1. The establishment and review of tariffs is the exclusive competence of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO), which determines them in accordance with its regular procedures and analyses,” said KESCO spokesperson Margarita Rashiti.
The executive director of the Institute for Development Policy, Burim Ejupi, is convinced that there will be an increase from April 1.
"So far, those who are actors, neither KEDS nor KESCO nor KOST, have requested that they be increased prematurely before the annual process. So, ERO is not going to increase the tariffs because they have not requested an increase and this could also be related to the electoral process... Even now, electricity will become more expensive, but it will become more expensive from April 1st," Ejupi emphasized.
He believes that the lack of investment in increasing energy capacity, increased consumption, but also electricity trading will be factors that will influence the price increase from April.
Considering the consumption that is increasing because there is no alternative in recent years for heating and the citizens' only alternative for heating, I believe, is electricity. Also, consumption from thermal power plants has decreased this year due to some repairs and some breakdowns that the thermal power plants have had, the import price has not increased compared to previous years... We are still paying very high prices for the transport of electricity and when we add all this up, I believe that we will have another increase in the price of electricity for 2026", says Ejupi.
The increase in the price of electricity is having an immediate impact on citizens' budgets.
"It's only our souls that are burdened with every year, every six months, every year. We are growing nonstop, we are not going down. I don't understand what this means. Our conditions are catastrophic," Sali Ajupi stressed.
"Of course it weighs heavily on the family budget. Certainly considering what income we have, it certainly weighs heavily, but I believe we could have found a solution because I see it as more expensive. Electricity is nowhere in the region, not in the region but not even in Europe, it is more expensive than here... It weighs heavily on the budget, especially in winter, in winter the bill comes, an electricity bill for an average family is less than 40 euros, then we all know how much our average monthly budget is," declared Bajram Havolli.
"It's bad, then a bigger evil that this is the key to all other price increases. As soon as a very small price increase is happening, then all the prices are moving around the premises everywhere, there is no control at all on prices. This is even more tragic than electricity because electricity is very necessary because we use it a lot," said Hysni Zuka Zuka.
Luan Hasanaj from the group "Not a Cent More" says that considering organizing protests is inevitable in the event of an increase in electricity bills.
"The only mechanism that we as civil society and active citizens can do is raise our voices to oppose these harmful decisions, of course we will reconsider organizing protests. So, we will not stop because we consider that if this increase in energy tariffs is not accompanied by an improvement in well-being from increased wages and other policies that favor the citizen. This country is becoming less livable day by day", declared Hasanaj.
On April 16, 2025, the Electricity Regulatory Office (ERO) decided to increase electricity tariffs by 16.1%.
The decision to increase the price of electricity was opposed by citizens and civil society, through the organization of protests. The president, Vjosa Osmani, also opposed this decision, while the Ombudsman requested the suspension of the decision./KosovaPress
