Acting Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, has emphasized that the liberalization of the open energy market for businesses will come into effect on June 1, including enterprises that meet the legal criteria.
At a press conference today, she clarified that this step involves less than one percent of enterprises, mostly the larger ones.
“These make up less than one percent of the enterprises in Kosovo and are the largest and most powerful in Kosovo… If the Assembly had already been constituted some time ago, we would have invited the Energy Regulatory Office (ZRRE) to report on this matter… Immediately after the first meeting with businesses, on May 22 we met with licensed electricity suppliers together with the ZRRE. During this meeting, we understood that one of the main reasons some of them did not actively participate in the market, meaning they did not submit offers, was the uncertainty whether the process would be postponed again, since it has been postponed year after year for eight consecutive years. The ZRRE assured them that businesses meeting the legal criteria will enter the open market on June 1, 2025. Two companies active in the region, besides KESCO and KEK, told us they were ready to submit offers as of that day. In yesterday’s meeting with businesses and chambers, the ZRRE informed us that since that meeting two more licensed companies have been added, bringing the total number of licensed companies to 21, of which six have declared they are active, and five of them said they have already submitted offers to some businesses, and some have signed contracts with certain businesses,” said Rizvanolli.
Rizvanolli accused the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (OEK) of pressuring businesses not to participate in meetings about energy market liberalization and not to sign contracts with suppliers, reports KosovaPress.
“Since January 1, 2024, citizens do not pay a single cent for supply in the northern municipalities. Regarding the price, the way the price is formed by the supplier there, the difference is that there is only one supplier offering regulated prices and universal service, and that supplier is KESCO. Other suppliers set their prices based on the market but may also have subsidies; that is their matter. Citizens supplied by KESCO benefit from KEK’s energy, others do not benefit unless they buy it on the market. Meanwhile, from energy coming from domestic renewable sources—wind, solar, hydro—according to the law, all suppliers are obliged to buy proportionally,” said Rizvanolli.
Regarding the selection of the new CEO of KEK, Artane Rizvanolli said the recruitment process has been completed, but the appointment has not yet been made.
On Thursday, businesses protested by blocking several entrances to Pristina against the decision to move businesses to the free electricity market on June 1, as they say this harms businesses.
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti reacted to the business protest demanding postponement of the free electricity market decision, set to start on June 1. Kurti said that today there is an attempt to block main roads, but he added that the era of barricades in Kosovo is over. /E.Krasniqi
