Water Companies Have Power Cut Off Due to Debt

TIRANA, May 16 – Electricity distribution operator, CEZ Shperndarje, said last weekend it has started the disconnection of several water supply companies, which altogether owe the company more than 840 million ALL. After several meetings and information letters as well as warnings of disconnection for several hours to the water supply companies in previous months, CEZ Shperndarje received no response or willingness on the side of the water supply companies to pay the accumulated debt. Consequently, it was given no other option but to disconnect their electricity. “CEZ Shperndarje is a private company which is dependent on the collection of the payment of invoices and it is committed to achieve the goals set up by the Albanian Regulator ERE in terms of increase of collection and decrease of losses. In this view, it is also committed to not tolerate any of its clients, be it households, businesses, budgetary or non-budgetary institutions which are not willing to pay their invoices.” “We stand ready to find a solution with the water supply companies which do not jeopardize the welfare of our company CEZ Shperndarje,” CEZ said. Big cities such as Durres, Fier and Vlora suffered water shortages for three consecutive days following the CEZ disconnections. The water connection was partly made after the Ministry of Transportation negotiated. The water supply companies are currently managed by local government units but receive state subsidies to pay power bills to the Czech Republic-owned company, CEZ Shperndarje.