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.
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.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
