The water level at Bileća Lake has fallen twelve meters below the planned level due to an unusually dry year. However, this shortfall does not pose a threat to electricity supply for consumers in the Republic of Srpska (RS), according to Ivan Koprivica, Executive Director for Technical Affairs at the ERS power utility.
Currently, the Trebišnjica hydropower complex (HET) has reached 76% of its seasonal generation target. HPP Višegrad is at 82%, while HPP Bočac on the Vrbas River has reached 90%, thanks to heavier rainfall in March.
Scheduled maintenance on all three Trebišnjica plants will begin in early September. HPP Višegrad and HPP Bočac are also scheduled for overhauls in the coming months.
Electricity supply to consumers in RS remains uninterrupted, despite occasional faults in the distribution network, which have been quickly resolved. However, electricity consumption increased by 8% between January and May 2025 compared to the same period last year, placing additional strain on ERS’s system.
To meet demand, ERS has been purchasing electricity on the open market at prices higher than its own production costs and selling it to consumers at lower rates. The drought has also limited electricity exports and increased domestic demand due to high temperatures.
On the coal-fired generation side, TPP Ugljevik has completed its overhaul and has been running smoothly for more than thirty days. Major maintenance at TPP Gacko is expected to finish by late July or early August, after which both plants will be fully operational, boosting electricity production in RS.
