The price of electricity for households and companies will most likely be 10 percent more expensive from January, writes “Novosti”.
This means that instead of the current 95, businessmen will pay 105 euros per megawatt-hour for electricity.
For the average household that consumes about 350 kilowatt-hours per month, increased bills for about 370 dinars will arrive in February.
Now, a megawatt-hour of electricity, without taxes and network fees, costs citizens about 41 euros. On the European market, the price for delivery in the next year was around 360 euros per megawatt-hour on Wednesday, and in the previous days it was up to 400 euros.
The Union of Employers of Serbia points out that the increase in the price of electricity will burden our businessmen, who will have new expenses from the New Year due to the increase in salaries, as well as the higher prices of raw materials that are mainly imported.
The Chamber of Commerce of Serbia believes that it is significant that the price increase is limited and that we will continue to be among the countries with the lowest price of electricity in Europe, which is an advantage in attracting foreign investments.
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said at the end of last week that it is possible that the price of electricity will increase, and that, when it happens, it will range between eight and ten percent.
“Businessmen are aware of the circumstances, but they think that a 10 percent increase is big,” says Nebojša Atanacković from UPS. “It will lead to higher prices for products and services that depend on energy sources, which will further push inflation.” UPS constantly emphasizes the need to make a distinction between businessmen, because not everyone is in the same situation.”
He explains that for those companies, whose share of electricity consumption in the production process is large, and which cannot switch to other sources of energy, the state should make certain concessions so that their production price does not increase much. According to Bojan Stanić, assistant director of the Sector for Strategic Analysis, PKS, the increase in the price of electricity means an additional cost for the economy, but it is still a reasonable increase considering the price of electricity on the European stock market.
On the other hand, Atanacković states that, including the new price increase from January, the price of electricity for businessmen will increase by more than 100 percent in a year. It will cost 105, and before it was 50 euros per megawatt-hour. First, as he reminds, the price rose to 75, then to 95 euros per megawatt-hour, and now it will increase by another 10 percent. He estimates that these price increases will occur relatively quickly. According to him, unlike gas and oil and derivatives, where Serbia is dependent on imports, the state participates significantly in the production of electricity and has the opportunity to influence the price more.
The low price attracts investors
About 3.5 billion euros of investments came this year, which is more than last year, according to Bojan Stanić from PKS. “One of the advantages that Serbia uses to attract investors is that the price of electricity in our country is relatively low, and even with a 10 percent increase, it remains at that level.”
The increase in prices, as indicated, is expected, and thus gives businessmen space and time to adjust, because energy prices will remain increased.
Products and services are becoming more expensive
Serbian businessman Miroljub Aleksić, whose companies operate in the hospitality and hotel sector, the confectionery industry and in the field of trade, points out that the increase in the price of electricity for businessmen will certainly raise the prices of products and services.
“Because this is unsustainable,” says Aleksic. “All levies, taxes, fees, and energy bills increase over the years. The prices of raw materials, as well as all inputs, including food products, have increased by more than 50 percent. The minimum wage will also be raised.”
The only thing, as he states, is that the exchange rate of the euro has not changed for 10 years. According to Aleksić, these are scissors that destroy export-oriented domestic companies, businessmen and farmers, and he emphasizes that everything is subordinated to the import lobby. Each exporter, as he explains, sells euros for 50 percent of the value and thus pays all dinar duties and energy costs, B92 writes.
