Albania to fine heads of institutions that don’t cut power consumption

The government must lead the way in saving energy, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania Belinda Balluku. She revealed that state officials that don’t cut power consumption in their institutions by 15% would be fined.

The Council of Ministers of Albania introduced a rule that state institutions must cut power consumption by 15% every month from the previous year’s levels. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku pointed out that the government must lead the way in the push to save energy.

The 15% in the sector makes up 1% of the country’s total electricity use, worth EUR 29 million per month, she added. Every institution will be obligated to appoint an administrator responsible for energy savings. The administrator or the head of the institution will be personally fined EUR 430 if the target isn’t met for two months in a row, Balluku stressed.

The Council of Ministers of Albania stands by its decision to postpone the increase in electricity prices for households that consume more than 800 kWh per month

The decision was made as part of Albania’s emergency measures to secure the stability of energy supply. Balluku noted the government has earmarked subsidies for a program for households to install solar collectors for heating water.

The Energy Regulatory Authority has formally published the decision to hike power prices for households that consume more than 800 kWh per month even though Prime Minister Edi Rama said the measure would be postponed. Balluku explained that the government has the last say. She confirmed the measure wouldn’t be implemented for October.