AHK made a total of 13,440 power outages to its customers for non-payment of electricity in 2020, but there is no data on the number of household members affected. In the answers sent by the Electricity Authority to questions from members of the Finance Committee, on the occasion of the discussion of its budget for 2021, which took place on February 1, it is noted, among other things, that “the organization stands with all its might on the side of society in this the hardships and financial difficulties faced by a number of our fellow human beings. The service officers are at the disposal of our customers and each case is examined with the maximum social sensitivity, taking into account at the same time the need for equal treatment of all consumers “. We remind you that for some months in the first phase of the pandemic, the EAC avoided the disconnection of households and other customers, due to the deteriorating situation that had been caused and the severe restrictions on traffic.
Asked if the EAC could offer electricity packages to households and businesses, the Authority noted that packages similar to those offered in telecommunications could not be offered for electricity because the costing is based on the amount of energy consumed by the customer. It justifies the answer by stating that the costing includes a variable fuel cost, in the form of a clause, which changes every month. It was also mentioned that for better planning purposes, home customers are offered a plan of equal monthly installments. The fixed monthly installment is based on each customer's consumption history, and is adjusted at the end of each 12-month period.
One of the questions of the deputies was whether due to the pandemic there is any plan / suggestion by the EAC to repeat the reduction in electricity by 10%, as was done in 2020. The Authority clarifies that its move in this unprecedented test to offers a reduction of 10% in the invoices of all its customers for a period of 6 months in 2020, corresponds to an amount of € 32 million, an amount that the EAC drew from its reserves, effectively returning back to the society and economy of Cyprus part of the surpluses of. The Electricity Authority also points out that the 2021 budget is in deficit of € 161 million and this deficit will be covered by existing cash and borrowing of € 30 million. In addition, it is noted that the EAC has a grand and significant development over the next three years, amounting to € 0.7 billion. Therefore, a possible repetition of the 10% reduction will negatively affect the EAC's cash resources and its ability to implement its development program.
