Albanian companies, for which the electricity market has been partially liberalized, including consumers connected to voltage levels of 20, 10 and 6 kV, will pay the same fixed price for electricity in the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023. The Energy Regulatory Agency, ERE, at the last session set the price for these customers at 18.26 lek (0.16 euros) per kWh.
These companies were supposed to enter the liberalized market on January 1, 2022, but this decision caused great opposition in the context of the energy crisis. Numerous businessmen warned that they would have to close their factories, and after negotiations with the government, they agreed to pay a price that is 70 percent higher than the price on the regulated market.
Through an agreement between the state electricity producer, KESH, and the free market supplier, OSHEE, electricity for these consumers is provided at a price of 12 lek (0.1 euro) per kWh, after applying other fees, such as transmission and distribution , it ranged between 18-19 lek (about 0.16 euros) per kWh in 2022. During the last year, the price was approved by ERE at the beginning of each month.
The regulator also approved the price for 2023 for entities connected to the voltage level of 35 kV, but for this category the price was approved only for January – 32.27 Lek (0.28 Euro) per kWh. This price will be set by ERE every month, based on data provided by market operators, such as the backup supplier.
Companies connected to 35 kV entered the free market on January 1, 2018 – a total of 96 of them. There are about 7,600 consumers at medium voltage – 20, 10 and 6 kV.
