Protest in Pristina against electricity increase

The group "Not a Cent More" organized a protest in Pristina on April 5, demanding that no decision be made to increase the price of electricity.

Holding slogans such as: "The state is silent, citizens do not stop", "New tariffs, new injustice", "KEDS should be returned to the people", "Impairment of the majority, enrichment of the minority", "There is no light with injustice", citizens gathered near the Kosovo Government building, opposed the demand from energy companies to increase energy tariffs by 15 percent.

Activist Besnik Shabiu said that their request to the Energy Regulatory Office has been clear from the beginning, saying that citizens do not deserve to pay any more taxes.

"The demand is clear: to suspend the decision to increase the price of electricity by 15 percent, as announced. To reopen a broad discussion, where we will also cooperate. To make a long-term plan, a strategy that will get Kosovo out of the energy problem once and for all. Until Friday, April 11, the day when ERO is expected to make the decision, we expect the relevant institutions to reflect and come before the citizens, to give up this vileness," he said, adding that if the decision to increase the price of electricity is made, then other protests will be organized.

The organizers of the protest said that in addition to the increase in the price of electricity, a wave of price increases for products and services has recently been announced, so they said that the citizens of Kosovo "do not deserve to have their lives made more difficult."

After the protest at Skenderbeu Square, the protesters continued their march towards the Ministry of Economy building. There they placed slogans so that when officials go to work, they can see the citizens' dissatisfaction.

The organizers of the protest in Pristina announced a new protest on April 11, if the decision to increase energy tariffs is made.

The Energy Regulatory Office has warned that, starting this month, electricity bills could increase by 15 percent.

The request for an increase in the price of electricity was made by energy sector companies in Kosovo.

Currently, for consumers in Kosovo who consume up to 800 kilowatt hours per month, the price of electricity during the day is 7.79 cents per kilowatt. In the event of a 15 percent increase, they would pay 8.96 cents.

ERO reviews and sets electricity tariffs annually and they are in effect from April 1 to March 31 of the following year.

The decision on whether or not to increase the price of electricity this year is expected to be made on April 11, while the new tariffs are said to be able to enter into force retroactively from April 1 or May 1.

ERO has argued that the tariff increase this year is necessary due to the decrease in energy production, increased consumption, and heavy dependence on high-priced imports.

Kosovo cannot provide the necessary energy for its over 1.6 million inhabitants with production from the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) alone.

One of the reasons is the decades-old age of the "Kosova A" and "Kosova B" power plants.

There is also production through renewable sources, but in smaller quantities.

Business representatives have previously told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the eventual increase in electricity prices would increase businesses' operating costs. This would then force businesses to increase the price of their products and services, making them less competitive in the market.

Kosovo, in recent years, has faced continuous increases in the prices of products and services.

The escalation began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and accelerated after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. REL