Filenews 12 July 2022
Within days, the tariff plans of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus are expected to be approved by the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority, said EAC spokeswoman Christina Papadopoulou, who said that so far the Authority is not aware of the exact percentages of increases in electricity.
Asked to mention what the growth rate of electricity will be, Ms. Papadopoulou said that EAC does not yet have the official data and does not know the exact percentage of increases, however, she expressed the estimate that the increase will be around 24%.
"There is a big increase in the revaluation of the price of fuel in the last month. The price of oil has risen enormously and at the same time there is an increase in the basic tariffs of the EAC," he said.
When asked if there will be payment facilities for citizens who cannot cope, Ms. Papadopoulou said that EAC always makes facilities for people who really find it difficult to cope.
She explained that frontline service officers are preparing repayment plans to make it easier for the struggling customer and at the same time reduce the debit balance.
In relation to vulnerable population groups, she said that they have the special tariff with code 08, as determined by the state.
She said the tariffs of these population groups are about 20% lower than the rest of the customers.
She also said that the reduction in the VAT rate on the invoices of all household customers applies, noting that the VAT rate for household customers is reduced to 9% from the 19% that was and will remain reduced until the end of August.
She also added that for vulnerable groups the VAT rate is reduced to 5%.
Responding to another question whether EAC will take measures, Ms. Papadopoulou said that the Authority "has surpassed all precedents", explaining that "it has offered for 10 months a 10% reduction in all the tariffs of all its customers, during the pandemic, and this corresponded to €53 million".
"It is EAC money, which was given back to the state and the economy. It has exceeded all its financial capabilities. EAC has a development programme, which must be implemented. We have to ensure the credibility of our system,"she noted.
According to Christina Papadopoulou, "the system must definitely continue to be strengthened and modernized in our network, in order to ensure the uninterrupted reliable supply of electricity".
CNA
