The income rule changes because housing costs are rising, which helps more people qualify for help.

The draft law introduces a sovereign guarantee for subsidized housing loans, promotes mixed-use projects and expands private sector involvement in the public social housing fund.

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During presentation of the draft law in the Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, Karakaçi emphasized that, Although the core principle of EU legislation is a fully liberalized energy market, Albania has negotiated with European institutions to retain protective measures for the most vulnerable consumers.

“We reached an agreement with the European Commission and the Energy Community Secretariat to expand public service protections, guaranteeing stable, below-market energy prices for households and small businesses”, the minister said.

According to Karakaçi, the Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE) will continue to set electricity rates for households and small businesses. This public service mechanism ensures stable pricing and protects consumers from free-market fluctuations. /j.p/p.s./

Effective May 27, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., the Transparency Board has capped retail gasoline at 179 lek/liter and wholesale at 167 lek/liter. These prices will remain in effect until the Board’s next review of market conditions. /p.s./

During today’s meeting of the Transparency Board, it was said that following a downward trend on the Platts Mediterranean exchange, it was decided that the retail prices for SSH EN gasoline are set at a maximum of 175 lekë/liter, while wholesale prices are limited to 163 lekë/liter.

“The prices set by the Board will come into effect today, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. and will be valid until the next board meeting where the changes in sales prices will be reflected,” Ibrahimaj said.

According to Ibrahimaj, “The Transparency Board has consistently based its decisions on Platts Mediterranean exchange fluctuations for gasoline and diesel, and official operator invoices”.

“We wish to clarify that the Board does not regulate crude oil prices. Instead, it sets maximum price caps for gasoil, gasoline, and liquefied gas based on the standards of the Normative Act. To manage market stability, the Board establishes maximum gross margins for wholesale and retail, within which operators must manage all their operational costs,” Ibrahimaj continued.

The Ministry of Economy and Innovation, together with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, are committed to protect the interests of Albanian consumers and maintain the principles of fair competition in the market.

“We are in an unusual situation, so our decisions are a direct response to domestic economic developments and movements in international markets”, emphasized Ibrahimaj, while drawing the attention of every operator of wholesale and retail sales of oil by-products to the obligation to abide by this decision.

“We are closely monitoring market performance to respond immediately to violations, including the suspension of activity,” Ibrahimaj concluded. /e.i/a.f/r.e/p.s./

This is the direct result of the proactive approach taken by the country’s supply operators.

Rama held a meeting with oil suppliers today at the premises of the “House of Business”, where they discussed efforts to cope with the impact of the current global crisis, while protecting consumers as much as possible.

Rama warned of the possible consequences of the crisis on the market in Albania.

Highlighting past precedents where the government intervened during international crises, PM Rama praised local oil suppliers for their responsible approach.

According to him, “A 40% price spike in the foreign markets is placing significant strain on supply chains”.

“While prices in Albania have risen, the rate of increase has been considerably more moderate than that observed in other countries”, Rama added.

However, the prime minister stressed that the oil price battle is ongoing, with no clear timeline for resolution.

“Market trends remain uncertain, whether they continue to rise or stabilize. However, we must focus on controlling what we can”, Rama added.

While recognizing that creating a transparency board was not considered a justifiable approach, Rama invited the operators to maintain the balance they have maintained so far.

“We should agree that the economic impact of the Middle East crisis should not be fully transferred to the consumer, but it requires you to absorb a portion of these costs within your margins. /j.p/p.s./

President of the Urban and Intercity Transport Association Dashnor Memaj told ATA today that, “This decision was approved at the meeting of the Kamza municipal council on October 26, following the request of the licensed private operator that manages the service of the two bus lines. So, beginning from today, November 1, the ticket has increased by 10 lekë”.

Memaj noted that, “This decision was based on an in-depth financial analysis, where costs significantly exceeded revenues and Kamza municipality did not have a budget to subsidize public transport, as Tirana municipality currently does”.

The Municipal Council has also approved the increase in the monthly ticket for these lines, which has gone up from 1,200 lekë to 1,400 lekë, an increase of 200 lekë.

According to Memaj, the price of the general monthly ticket is not affected by the changes, but changes only for these 2 lines.

Asked if a price increase is foreseen for the urban lines of the capital, Memaj said that, “There is no increase for Tirana bus lines and it is not foreseen because they are currently subsidized by the municipality”.

Speaking about improvement of public transport services within the capital, Memaj emphasized that, “There is undoubtedly a need for improvement in the urban infrastructure as a whole, but also in vehicles because there should be more frequent and faster movements, but this should be done by the infrastructure of dedicated bus lanes, which significantly increase the speed of movement”. /k.s/ /a.g/p.s./

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Besjan Kadiu explained in an interview with the Euronews Albania TV, the reasons for the Energy Regulatory Authority’s decision to increase energy tariffs only at electric car charging stations.

“This service has so far been untreated in the energy sector and it is left unregulated. The decision of the Regulatory Authority came after the request of the Electricity Distribution Operator, which requested the regulation of the energy price for charging electric cars,” said Kadiu.

Further on, Kadiu emphasized that there is no change in the price of energy for family use or in the general price of energy.

The deputy minister explained further that the price of 22 lekë to 25.3 lekë per kilowatt hour will only be applied to customers who require new connection points with a connection power of 11 kilowatts.

According to him, at home, where the power is much lower, the charging cars can be done within 20 minutes, while this high power affects the network by creating imbalances and reductions in voltage and amperage and in turn also affects the other customers.

“This is the main cause of the price differentiation, as the impact on the network must also be managed financially,” explained the deputy minister.

On October 15, the Board of the Energy Regulatory Authority approved the establishment of a new tariff for charging electric cars at points and stations with installed power over 11 kW connected at a voltage level of 0.4 kW. According to the approved decision, beginning from November 1, 2025, there will be applied the electricity sales price of 22 lekë per kWh and 25.3 lekë per kWh during the peak hours. The time bands determined for the application of the energy price during the peak hours are: for the period from November 1 to March 31 from 18:00 to 22:00 and for the period from April 1 to October 31 from 19:00 to 23:00. /j.p/p.s./

Bardhi reacted to Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku who has suggested to the people not to use the car.

“The government and Belinda Balluku have only one solution to the high price of fuel in Albania. “Don’t use the car and walk” – this is their solution because only Belinda and her likes should drive”, wrote Bardhi in the social media.

Further on, Bardhi emphasized that the fuel price will be reduced through cutting the taxes that are paid in the price of fuel.

“By stripping the price of added and unnecessary taxes, the price reaches the same level as in other countries in the region, including Kosovo, Montenegro or North Macedonia”, wrote Bardhi.

“The reduction in fuel prices reflects a reduction in all daily consumer goods due to the reduction in transportation costs. This is our commitment to make the lives of citizens as easy as possible. On May 11, vote no. 1, “Democratic Party Coalition – Alliance for Great Albania”, underlined Bardhi. /a.f/p.s./

The meter reader has an important role in this entire process. Therefore, OSHEE has undertaken a series of measures in order to guarantee the most correct and timely billing for each subscriber.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku accompanied by the administrator of the Electricity Power Distribution Operator (OSHEE) Enea Karakaçi and that of Transmission System Operator (OSSH) Blendian Dalipi inspected on the ground part of the work being done by the energy meter readers, to offer citizens a fair billing.

“We have requested that every consumption of over 700 kilowatts have its own transparent photo, so that we can be even closer to customers for any complaints they may have”, explained Karakaçi.

Deputy Prime Minister Balluku said that all measures have been taken to make the process as fair as possible. The entire process of reading energy meters must be concluded within 8 days, calculating the 30-day calendar period for each subscriber.

Nearly 1 million household subscribers throughout the country benefit from the reduction in energy prices by almost 10.5%, said Balluku, emphasizing that energy saving remains an important factor in this entire process.

“The reason why we decided to apply a lower price according to consumption categories, 8.5 lekë for consumption from 0 to 700 kilowatt-hours is because we are looking for the entire population, all family members who benefit from this package of over 1 million subscribers, that energy is a very important commodity, which must be saved. Of course, its use is necessary in everyday life, but saving is even more important because of all the conditions we have, hydropower plants that depend on the weather”, Balluku underlined. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

The images show long lines of subscribers waiting to pay their electricity bills, while PM Rama considers today’s transformation in the energy sector as “epochal”.

‘Here’s a video showing the epochal transformation in the energy sector since 2013, when Albania was a financial black hole in the middle of Europe with catastrophic energy theft and losses, long lines of half the population to pay bills while the other half did not pay at all, the scandalous price movements and the noise of generators in the streets. While at present, we are the largest producers of solar energy in the region; we have digitalized services and a volume of ongoing investments that will give us full energy independence within the fourth governance mandate. And we have decided on the first price reduction in 35 years for household consumers, from which over 1 million subscribers benefit,’ Rama wrote in a post in the social media.

The Board of the Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE) decided yesterday that the price for household consumers who spend up to 700 kWh will be 8.5 lekë per kilowatt (excluding VAT).

For those families consuming more than 700 kilowatts, the price will be 9.5 lekë per kilowatt (excluding VAT).

This decision enters into force for the period from February 1 to December 31, 2025. /a.f/r.e/p.s./