The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC) has once again called on the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) to postpone the opening of the free market for businesses until February 2026. Two days before the deadline for KEK to act as the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) for businesses expires, the president of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, Lulzim Rafuna, said that ERO is threatening businesses to sign electricity supply agreements; otherwise, starting August 1, all businesses without contracts with a supplier will have their electricity cut off, reports KosovaPress.
After entering the free market for businesses from June 1, KEK has continued to be the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) for businesses until July 30, 2025. The 60-day period starts from June 1, 2025 and ends on July 30, 2025, after which KEK will no longer have the legal right to this role and supply will be interrupted unless a contract has been signed with a supplier licensed by ERO.
At a press conference on Monday, Rafuna said this action by ERO is least beneficial to businesses or the economy, but rather benefits certain individuals or companies engaged in electricity trading.
In addition, he added that due to businesses entering the open market, imports have increased by 12%, while exports have decreased by 1.5%.
However, Rafuna warned that they will continue to pursue legal channels to fight this ERO decision in court.
In June of this year, the Energy Regulatory Office decided that all companies with more than 50 employees or annual turnover above 10 million euros must enter the free electricity market.
Last week, the Chamber of Trade and Industry Kosova submitted a request to the government to postpone the energy market liberalization process.
At an extraordinary press conference in front of the government building, the Chamber of Trade and Industry Kosova leaders said the Energy Regulatory Office’s decision will impact citizens with price increases, worker layoffs, and reduced budget revenues for Kosovo.
Last week, ERO informed businesses about the end of the guaranteed supply period from the Supplier of Last Resort.
Also, KEK recently announced that July 30 is the last date it will supply electricity to all consumers who have not found a supplier in the open market.
Meanwhile, on June 12, 2025, the Board of the Energy Regulatory Office appointed KEK as the Supplier of Last Resort for a six-month period, from July 31, 2025, to January 30, 2026. /E.Zeqiri
