Bosnia and Herzegovina imported nearly 250 million euros worth of electricity in the first nine months of 2025, according to data from the Agency for Statistics. This represents a sharp rise from the same period in 2024, when imports amounted to 86.5 million euros — an increase of about 160 million euros year-on-year.
At the same time, electricity exports also increased, reaching 334 million euros between January and September, compared to 240 million euros during the same period last year.
Power utilities across the country have faced a challenging year, marked by operational difficulties and financial pressure. In September, Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) raised electricity prices by an average of 6.85%, following approval from the Federation’s Energy Regulatory Commission (FERK). The new tariff system introduced three consumption-based categories: green (up to 350 kWh), blue (350–1000 kWh), and red (above 1000 kWh), with average bill increases of 4.8%, 6.3%, and 8%, respectively. Other categories saw smaller adjustments — 3.67% for general consumption and 5.08% for public lighting.
In the Republic of Srpska, distribution companies sought steep hikes in network tariffs, first by 40% in July and then by 46% in August. Although many distributors still reported profits for the first half of 2025, the Regulatory Commission for Energy (RERS) has yet to issue a final decision. However, a significant increase in household bills from January 2026 appears likely. Earlier this year, electricity prices had already risen by about 7.9% for households and 15% for businesses.
Energy expert Almir Bečarević warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reliance on electricity imports is deepening. He noted that the country has shifted from being a net exporter to a net importer and cautioned that buying electricity on the open market could undermine the financial stability of domestic utilities. Bečarević also pointed out that the upcoming introduction of a carbon tax in two months will add further strain to the sector.
He described the import value of nearly 250 million euros as alarming — almost three times higher than last year — and predicted that the trend of growing imports and rising electricity prices is likely to continue.
