The new electricity billing system for entities operating as bakeries has been approved by all stakeholders. The new system is based on the typology of each entity according to the activity it carries out.

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

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, together with the Administrator of the Electricity Distribution Company, Enea Karakaçi, met one of the businesses that, in addition to the bakery, also sells pastries and coffee bars. The bakery uses electricity at a price of 12 ALL per kilowatt under the new system.

The Administrator of Electricity Distribution clarified that after the approval of the new scheme, the working groups have started verifications in the field to divide the subjects according to three categories, as he emphasised that the whole process has so far found the support of all subjects.

“There has also been maximum cooperation from the bakeries. They have understood the process. They know it is for their own good. Those who are big units definitely know that they have a much bigger activity and maybe they can pay a little bit more, but all the other units, those who only have a bakery or a bakery and a confectionery, come out with a profit,” Karakaçi said.

Minister Balluku said the new system was fair and would put an end to a long-standing problem. It also promotes competition in the sector. Balluku went on to say that, the scheme would not increase the price of products.
“Everybody will be treated equally, they will be treated in an orderly manner because we must not forget that energy generally goes over 20% of the cost of a product, and going over 20% of the cost of a product is very important. Therefore, if there is equal treatment in the market and fair treatment, the competition between the parties will be fair, because here is the problem of competition. So we have stabilized this whole process once and for all by achieving and having transparency in terms of monthly measurement,” said Balluku.

So far, more than 1,300 objects have been inspected by the electricity distribution company’s groups to categorize them. Under the new scheme, bakeries that sell only bread will be charged at 7.6 ALL per kilowatt; those that sell pastries in addition to bread will be charged 9.5 ALL per kilowatt, while establishments that sell bread in addition to pastries and serve as coffee bars will be charged 12 ALL per kilowatt.