OSHEE stated that no decision has been made to increase the electricity price rate for bakeries and other business establishments.

According to the power utility, the electricity billing scheme for bakeries has entered into force since April and the scheme was applied after the full approval by the private businesses themselves.

OSHEE clarified that the “peak hour” for electricity recently under discussion is a specific concept set by the Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE) in 2016.

The power distribution operator clarified that a 15% higher price rate is applied  during the peak hour only.

“Peak hour” for electricity is an international concept, referring to the specific periods during the day when the electricity demand is at its highest and these are the hours when a large number of people and businesses are actively using electrical appliances, devices, and machinery. Therefore, the electricity price is higher all over the world.

The operator noted that the electricity price for bakeries hasn’t changed and any increase in bread price is abusive.

According to OSHEE, around 1600-1700 establishments are registered and operate as bakeries all over the country.

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There are nearly 2,600 bakeries throughout the country that are affected by this new system, which are divided into three categories. There are those that operate only as bakeries, those that operate as bakeries but also sell pastry products, as well as bakeries that are integrated where, in addition to operating as a bakery, they also sell pastry products and also serve as coffee bars.

Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, together with the administrator of the Electricity Power Distribution System Operator (OSHEE) Enea Karakaçi visited one of the bakeries that also operates in the sale of pastry products and serves as coffee bar. According to the new scheme this bakery will be billed at a price of 12 lekë per kilowatt.

The administrator of OSHEE clarified that after the approval of the new scheme, the working groups have started verifications on the ground to divide the subjects according to three categories while he emphasized that so far the whole process has found the support of all subjects.

Minister Balluku appreciated the new scheme as fair and it puts an end to a long-standing problem. It also promotes competition within the sector. Balluku further stated that through this scheme there will be no increase in the price of products.

“Everyone will be treated equally. And when there is an equal treatment in the market and a fair treatment, the competition between the parties will be fair because here was the problem of competition. So, we have stabilized this whole process once and for good, achieving and having transparency in terms of monthly measurement”, said Balluku.

So far, more than 1300 bakeries have been verified by the OSHEE groups, in order to categorize them. With the new scheme, bakeries that sell only bread will be billed at the price of 7.6 Lekë per kilowatt, those that sell pastry products in addition to bread, will have a price of 9.5 Lekë per kilowatt, while those that sell bread in addition to pastry products, as well as serve as coffee bars, will be billed at the price of 12 Lekë per kilowatt./p.s./

Balluku noted that new higher price rates will be applied to bakeries also housing pastries and cafés.

“The electricity price will remain unchanged at 7.6 lek per kw/h for bakeries only, whereas the bakeries offering also pastry products will pay 9.5 lek per kw/h and bakeries serving also as cafés will pay 12 lek per kw/h,” Balluku said.

According to Deputy PM Balluku, the current electricity price is subsidized and ensures fair competition. She announced that the new electricity rates for bakeries that also house pastries and cafes will enter into force starting as of May 1.

Balluku said that together with sector representatives she has embarked on a tour to present the new electricity billing system for the bakeries after the initiative has been approved by all stakeholders and will help private entities to keep costs and prices unchanged.

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However, the bakeries that house also pastries, the electricity price will be 9.5 lek per kw/h, and for bakeries housing also a pastry and cafés the applied rate will be 12 lek per kw/hour.

According to Deputy PM Balluku, the current electricity price is subsidized and ensures fair competition. She announced that the new electricity rates for bakeries that also house pastries and cafes will enter into force starting as of May.

“As many as 2600 bakeries operate throughout the country. Bakeries provide basic food product and the electricity price for bakeries only will remain unchanged at 7.5 lek,” Balluku said.

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Rama said that, “Airports are ‘bakeries’ because they bring a lot of traffic and this brings a lot of money.”

This, said the prime minister, brings the need for more services, hotels, inns, bars, restaurants, health services “.

Rama said that we are at a stage now that we cannot stop and not to go back.

“In Albania, agri-tourism is new, still in its infancy. It was born only in recent years thanks to our vision and drive, but it will be multiplied, it will spread throughout Albania, benefiting from the continuous growth of tourism on the sea coast “, said Rama.

The prime minister said that this will happen with the new investments, with the big tourist port of Durrës, one of the largest in the Mediterranean, an investment of 2.5 billion from one of the largest companies in the world, from Dubai.

“We also have the port of Vlora, another port that will bring here many tourists of another category, from those who spend more, come by yacht. Also with the port of Saranda and that of Shengjin. We will have new gates that will bring many more people who, when set foot in Albania, will want to go deeper, to enjoy the fantastic nature. This is a paradise made by God and hidden by the slave”, said Rama adding that Belsh is just a part of future Albania./p.s./