The Regulatory Commission for Energy of Republika Srpska (RS) has not yet decided whether it will accept the request of the distribution company operators to increase the network fee by 46 percent. If accepted, it will lead to a 23 percent increase in the price of electricity. The argument that RS has the lowest network fee in the region is not a justification for the increase, according to economic analysts and citizens, given the low standard of the population.
Citizens in RS will, by all indications, pay more for electricity from the beginning of next year. There is still no official confirmation of how much. The request for a 46 percent increase in the network fee is on the table of the Regulatory Commission for Energy.
“The requests are what they are, and it is up to the Regulatory Commission to assess their justification. We weigh every expense submitted so that we act correctly and make the right decision,” said Petar Munisic, Regulatory Commission for Energy of RS.
The situation in the electricity sector was discussed in the National Assembly of the RS (NARS). Members of the ruling majority justify the request for an increase in the network fee by the need for investments, poor climatic conditions, and the lowest network and electricity prices in the region.
“73 percent of our households are in the lowest group that consumes up to 500 kilowatts and pays the cheapest electricity price, which has not changed in the last 15 years,” said Aco Stanisic, SNSD delegate in the NARS.
“I responsibly claim, regardless of what happens at the Government session, that RS will still remain with the lowest price by far,” said Ilija Tamindzija, SNSD delegate in the NARS.
Losses in the electricity sector are piling up year after year. Opposition delegates consider the director of Elektroprivreda and the competent minister responsible. Due to pre-war investments in the Ugljevik Mine and Thermal Power Plant, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) faces another arbitration dispute in which the Slovenian Elektroprivreda is seeking 700 million euros in damages.
“We have loans for the Dabar and Bistrica hydropower plants and in the Ugljevik mine of 650 million. Suppliers for Ugljevik and Gacko are owed 165 million, arbitration with the Slovenians is 300 million – that’s 1.3 billion – and Komser has been promised 240 million,” said Tomica Stojanovic, SDS delegate in the NARS.
“In Slovenia, electricity is 170 percent more expensive, but salaries are 270 percent higher. If the Regulatory Commission for Energy adopts this insane request, dear citizens, from January 1st, you will have a gift – an increase in the electricity price by 23 percent,” said Bojan Kresojevic, PDP delegate in the NARS.
We asked citizens what they think about the announced increase in the network fee, and therefore the electricity price as well.
Analysts consider the request for an increase in the network fee unjustified.
“Why don’t they talk about the living standard, about how others live, what the price of food is, and how this additional network fee will cause a chain increase in the prices of some products? Why don’t they talk about that? Why do they constantly talk about the cheapest network fee? Why don’t they say how they created such huge losses?” said Svetlana Cenic, economic analyst.
