CEZ reconfirms commitment to continue operating in Albania

Tirana, Oct. 18 – CEZ Shp쳮darje wants to inform the media and the public opinion that its position in the Albanian energy market remains unchanged. As it has been previously stated, CEZ Shperndarje remains committed to continuing its operation in Albania, offer the best quality of service to its clients and improve its relations with the local authorities and the community. In this framework, the company has gone through internal reorganization, in order to meet the best European practices of doing business, and it has dismissed many employees that have been abusing with the clients and company’s assets. In order to improve the quality of energy supply for its regular clients, CEZ Shp쳮darje has started campaigns that involve the disconnection of debtors and illegal connections to the grid. Every day, some 4200 employees of CEZ Shperndarje are out on the field, working to repair defects caused by illegal connections, which overload the grid and put lives at risk, or bad weather. Teams of CEZ Shp쳮darje were in the front line last February, when floods slammed the Northeast, guaranteeing the safety of the grid and repairing defects within the contractual time limits. The same teams now are preparing the grid for the upcoming winter, cutting off debtors and illegal connections and repairing defects, all in a bid to provide an energy supply of quality for our clients who pay their energy dues.
In this framework, CEZ Shperndarje wants to bring to attention the latest protests in Kombinat in regard to the prolonged power outage. The outage is due to illegal connections overloading the grid. CEZ Shperndarje’s teams have tried several times to go on location, to repair the defects and disconnect the illegal connections, but has not been allowed to do so by debtors responsible for these connections, and who often have threatened the safety of our employees. In these regard, CEZ Shperndarje has asked for the assistance of police and local authorities. If our teams are not allowed to go on location, fix the defect and cut off the illegal connections and debtors, the problems with the power supply in this area will continue, unfairly penalizing our regular clients. If the safety of our teams is guaranteed, CEZ Shperndarje guarantees proper supply of energy for its regular clients.
In regard to the protests in Komuna Kolsh and Nikel, CEZ Shperndarje wants to clarify that they are done by debtors, for whom the power supply has been cut off because of their outstanding debts. CEZ Shpernadrje has tried negotiating with these clients and even offered the opportunity to pay off their debt through installments, options that have been ignored by the debtors.
We as CEZ Shperndarje are aware that the situation still needs to be hugely improved and that these improvements need some time. However, we are committed to go along and do all the huge efforts needed to transform the company into one of European standards, however in all this process we need the support of the regulator, state and civil society institutions, as well as that of the community, which beside fulfilling their duties should condemn all those who violate the law, steal the electricity or not pay it. It’s time that everyone understands that electricity is just like any other product, one must pay in order to have it.