“I don't know how we'll manage, it's too expensive!” This is the concern that Kosovo citizens repeat as they face their monthly electricity bills. The question everyone asks themselves is the same, “Will we be able to support our family without being burdened by the expenses?” This concern is even greater now, as The Kosovo Electricity Supply Company KESCO has requested from the Kosovo Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) a price increase of up to over 20 percent of electricity tariffs for 2026.
Meanwhile, according to experts in this field, the main reason for the announced increase is related to a series of accumulated factors, including the delay in the process of opening the energy market, the lack of serious investments in domestic production and efficiency, as well as delays in the integration of the Kosovo market with the region.
While the decision is expected to be made on April 1, citizens are calling on the state to intervene in this regard.
Citizen Sherafedin Kulinxha says that prices increase every three months and that his pension is not enough to cover expenses.
And for the citizen, Bashkim Muçiqi, this announcement is a scandal.
Blerim Krasniqi emphasizes that the decision to increase prices is not sustainable for families, while saying that the government should intervene here.
Muharrem Kasumi emphasizes the need for a wise energy policy and strategic orientation towards the West, involving citizens, the state, and the opposition in decision-making.
The increase in tariffs is not ruled out by Dardan Abazi, a senior researcher at the Institute for Development Policy (INDEP).
He says that delays in domestic production and the opening of the energy market directly affect the increase in prices. He emphasizes that citizens should be compensated for high-priced imports and calls for the publication of the ERO consultative report as soon as possible.
While he says that they are preparing the comments that they will submit, he states that ERO does not have sufficient capacity to conduct field visits to see if those transformers that are being written about as being invested in really have arrived.
ERO is expected to review this request from KESCO and will make a decision whether to accept it or not.
According to this request submitted to ERO, KESCO has requested that the maximum allowed revenues for the next year be 528.78 million euros.
"After taking into account the expected expenses for next year, the request for maximum allowed revenues for 2026 is 528.78 million euros," states the request that this company submitted to the Energy Regulator.
We recall that in May 2025, ERO had approved a 16.1 percent tariff increase compared to 2024.
In 2023, ERO approved a 15 percent increase in electricity prices.
In 2024, tariffs were reduced by 8 percent for household consumers consuming over 800 kilowatts, as well as for commercial and industrial consumers by 3 percent./KP
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