ERO responds to the request for the annulment of the decision to increase the price of electricity

The Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) has reacted to the request to annul the decision to increase the price of electricity by 16.1 percent, emphasizing that decision-making on tariffs is its exclusive competence and that no other institution has the mandate to intervene in this process.

"The Energy Regulatory Office (ERO), in accordance with its legal mandate, feels the need to clarify the public and maintain the accuracy of the information distributed regarding regulatory processes and decision-making on electricity tariffs, following statements made in the media from the meeting with LDK MPs," the statement said.

ERO recalls that it is an independent institution tasked with regulating, supervising and monitoring the energy sector in the Republic of Kosovo.

One of its fundamental functions is the review and approval of tariffs, based on the Tariff Methodology and legal principles such as transparency, fairness, non-discrimination and financial sustainability of the energy system.

"The statements that 'only the government can postpone the decision on electricity price increases' are incorrect and do not comply with the legal framework regulating the energy sector. Decisions on tariffs are the exclusive competence of ERO and no other institution has the legal mandate to cancel or postpone them," the reaction states.

ERO clarifies that the Government can only influence consumers through direct subsidies, but this does not constitute regulatory decision-making.

According to the law, ERO's decisions cannot be contested by any public institution, except through judicial proceedings in the competent court of Kosovo, according to the Law on Administrative Conflicts.

Regarding the transition of commercial consumers to the open energy market, ERO emphasizes that this process is part of the obligations for market liberalization according to European directives, incorporated into Kosovo legislation since 2016.

Currently, five customers are supplied through the open market, while the process was previously postponed due to uncertainties created by the pandemic and the energy crisis.

"The necessary conditions have now been met to enable the transition to the open market for those consumers who meet the criteria, giving them the opportunity to benefit from competition," the statement said.