CEDIS is also paid what is left over

The Montenegrin Electric Distribution System (CEDIS), which is part of Elektroprivreda, adopted a decision a month ago, with the approval of the Energy Regulatory Agency (RAE), on determining the fee for connection to the distribution system. This fee for a newly built average residential building, with a projected total power of 20 kW, can amount to more than 3.000 euros.

The fee is obtained by adding the fee for creating technical conditions for the connection in the amount of 72,32 euros and the fee for the connection, which is calculated depending on the diameter of the cable and the length of the route.

Due to the introduction of the new fee, "Vijesti" asked CEDIS and experts whether this fee is fair, bearing in mind that it does not apply to owners of illegal buildings, but only to investors who want to build legally.

Lawyer Nikola Martinović tells "Vijesti" that "it is not fair to burden new investors with duties for facilities and infrastructure that become the basic asset of CEDIS and on the basis of which CEDIS collects compensation and performs its basic activity".

"In my opinion, it's the same situation as if taxi drivers wanted citizens to buy them a taxi so that they could do their basic business," explained Martinović and stated that "the problem is that illegal builders are not charged anything."

The Corporate Communications Service of CEDIS announced that "On December 29, 2017, the Energy Regulatory Agency issued a Decision on the Application of the Methodology for Determining Charges for Connection to the Electricity Distribution System Based on Article 180 of the Energy Act."

"The decisions of the RAE, as our regulatory body, are binding for the Montenegrin electric distribution system-CEDIS, so the company made a Decision on determining the fee for connection to the distribution system in accordance with the aforementioned methodology. The decision began to be applied on January 24, 2018," the company added.

When it comes to illegal buildings, CEDIS notes that "investors of such buildings, after the implementation of the legalization procedure, will be obliged to pay the mentioned fees, in accordance with the regulations."

"For additional information, you can contact the Energy Regulatory Agency," added the company.

CEDIS: RAE approved methodology

To the question of "Vijesti" whether this new duty is unfair, bearing in mind that it does not apply to the owners of illegal buildings, but only to investors who want to build legally, the RAE answered:

"In accordance with the provisions of the Law on Energy, CEDIS, as a distribution system operator, determined and the Energy Regulatory Agency approved the Methodology for determining fees for connection to the distribution system of electricity and corresponding fees for disconnection. With the application of the new solution defined by the Law, the costs of construction of the connection do not burden all consumers, but are borne entirely by the consumer who caused them. Treatment of illegal objects, in terms of legalization costs, is the subject of a separate law".