Albania vows to curb electricity theft

Albania’s government launched a task force on Monday to end what it called the “collective theft” of electricity in an effort to turn around the debt-riddled electricity sector.

Energy and Industry Minister Damian Gjiknuri said the Albanian economy would suffer greatly unless power losses and theft were stopped because the loss amounted to 140 million euros (191 million U.S. dollars) so far. “This is a collective theft which should end,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said at the launching ceremony.

“We must and shall end the practice of non-payment and theft,” Rama added. Rama said the government would first make sure public institutions and businesses had paid their bills, and would initially spare those families in financial distress. Political favors in exchange for votes and slack application of the rule of law allowed many consumers not to pay their bills. Coupled with theft, the phenomenon created a chain of debt among power companies.

The task force, which included even the country’s prosecutor general, would target also those businesses which pay as if they were household consumers. Deputy prime minister Niko Peleshi said 93 percent of household contracts owed money to the power distributor.

Scan TV, 14.01.2014