Power prices during the past six years have increased by 63 percent climbing from an average of 5.71 kWh in 2005 to 9.53 lek kWh currently
TIRANA, Dec. 24 – Albania’s energy regulator, ERE, has ruled power prices will remain unchanged even for 2014, but said it might review them for 2015 considering the huge losses in the distribution system where around half of the electricity fed into the grid goes unpaid because of thefts and the dilapidated network. In Albania, power prices which take a considerable part of households’ monthly income, have remained unchanged since the end of 2009 when the Energy Regulatory Entity (ERE) approved the latest increase in electricity tariffs. Yet, the electricity prices in Albania are relatively considering that Albania has the lowest GDP per capita expressed in purchasing power standards.
ERE officials say they will continue applying the two-tier price level, under which Albanian households will pay 7.7 lek/kWh for a consumption of up to 300 kWh a month and 13.5 lek for each kWh they consume above the 300 kWh threshold (VAT excluded). Average tariffs for business consumers vary from 8.5 lek/ kWh to 10 lek kWh based on low or medium voltage power access. Meanwhile, state institutions pay 11.5 to 14 lek kWh.
Power prices during the past six years have increased by 63 percent climbing from an average of 5.71 kWh in 2005 to 9.53 lek kWh currently.
Albania’s electricity prices are higher than five European countries although its GDP per capita stands on the bottom of a 37-country list, according to the Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. At Euro 0.116/kWh, household electricity prices in Albania are higher than EU member Bulgaria, potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU candidates Macedonia, Montenegro and Iceland.
