Application of financial compensations in cases of non-compliance with minimum quality standards of electricity supply established by the Regulations on minimum delivery and electricity supply quality starts today, said the representatives of Energy Regulatory Agency.
For non-compliance with minimum quality standards prescribed by rules, a compensation in the amount of €20 has been defined for buyers who are connected to household distribution system, and €200 for buyers who are connected to transmission system .
Representatives of ERA said that financial compensations mechanism represented additional level of buyers’ protection.
“Following the best EU practice, ERA has defined quality standards and adopted Rules on minimum delivery and electricity supply quality standards and it’s the first regulatory body to activate this regulatory mechanism”, pointed out the representatives of ERA.
They explained that consumer submits consumer complaint to the supplier, i.e. Electric Power Company of Montenegro.
Subject of the consumer complaint might be failure to meet minimum quality standards established by Rules.
Supplier is obliged to decide upon the complaint within 15 days.
COMPENSATION
After supplier had rendered decision which goes in favor of a consumer, supplier is obliged to provide financial compensation within 30 days.
Representatives of ERA said that these rules improve the position of both existing and future buyers.
“Consumers who had concluded contracts on the electricity supply are entitled to financial compensations”, said the representatives of ERA.
Distributions system operator is obliged to decide on the request for issuing consent for connection within 15 days from the day the request was submitted.
Another example refers to unexpected electricity outage.
“If there has been a sudden outage, distribution or transmission system operator is obliged to establish unhindered electricity supply within 24 hours. Otherwise, the law stipulates compensation in the amount of €20 for consumers who are connected to distribution system and €200 for consumers connected to transmission system”, said the representatives of ERA.
Consumer has right to submit complaint about supply quality too.
SUPPLIERS
“Transmission system operator is the operator of distribution system (CEDIS). EPCG, Montenegro bonus, Uniprom, Energia Gas and Power Petrol MNE and Twinfin Tesla have licences for electricity supply”, said the representatives of ERA.
They say that a system which provides unhindered electricity supply does not exist.
“Such system would be economically inefficient and unreasonably expensive”, said the representatives of ERA.
They said that this mechanism was focused on concrete consumers, who are directly hit by the lack of delivery or supply quality. The objective is to compensate the difference between the guaranteed level of quality and the level of quality provided by suppliers.
