The Regulatory Commission for Energy and Water Services of the Republic of Northern Macedonia (ERC) has started procedures for revoking the licenses of two electricity suppliers - the Company for production, trade and services MIST ENERGY DOOEL Skopje and the Company for electricity trade U POVER-DO import Skopje.

The reason for that is that they did not provide on time and in full the quantities of electricity for which they have concluded agreements with the consumers and did not act in full after the previously adopted decisions of the ERC which were ordered measures to harmonize the operation.

For the electricity supplier Energija gas and power DOOEL Skopje, ERC made a decision to take measures so that practically the supplier should submit evidence that he has provided the required amount of electricity to consumers.

- MIST ENERGY and U POVER did not buy electricity on time and now that the prices on the stock exchanges have increased, the missing quantities have been supplemented by the reserves of MEPSO which are intended for balancing the power system. MEPSO alerted the ERC that an unjustifiably increased engagement of electricity used for emergency situations was recorded. In addition, this electricity that the suppliers used from the balancing mechanism is cheaper than the stock market price, which distorts the competition and endangers the stability of the power system. ERC monitors the situation continuously and a month ago asked these suppliers to submit (evidence that they have provided electricity) nominations according to the needs of their customers, but did not act until the deadline and therefore we start the procedure for revoking licenses, led Marko Bislimoski, President of the Regulatory Commission for Energy and Water Services who was a guest at the Morning Briefing yesterday.

ERC also made decisions ordering the suppliers Solaropro Holding DOOEL, Vangard DOO Skopje and Energy assets import-export DOOEL Skopje to accurately and completely inform the consumers about their rights and obligations.

- We registered partial information and attempts for manipulation by suppliers to consumers. Thus, some suppliers began to terminate contracts with domestic companies, ministries, public enterprises and other institutions ahead of time and tried to invoice them at new prices. I want to emphasize that through the adopted laws and regulations, consumers are protected and the supplier must not change the price of the contract during the period of change of supplier, ie until a new contract is concluded. The supplier is obliged to invoice the delivery of electricity to the consumer according to the price in the supply contract. If it does not do so and manipulates the ERC will start appropriate proceedings. I want to emphasize that these price distortions are recorded on the free wholesale market, while the price of electricity for households is stable and guaranteed by the domestic producer ESM. The universal supplier has provided the required energy, andsaid Bislimoski.

ERC will inform the Commission for Protection of Competition about the latest decisions and open procedures.

Source: MIA