Kosovo faces power supply challenges as Consumption Soars Amid Winter Cold

The Ministry of Economy, KOSTT, and KEDS held a joint meeting to address the electricity supply situation, as citizens from several municipalities in Kosovo have reported complaints in recent days, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

According to the ministry, KOSTT and KEDS reported that, with the drop in temperatures, electricity consumption has reached very high levels, exceeding 1400 MW at certain times.

"As a result, our electricity system has been overloaded, causing technical difficulties in supply and risking the network; therefore, it was necessary for operators to disconnect some settlements where the load was unbearable for the network. Difficulties have been particularly encountered in the municipalities of Ferizaj, Lipjan, Gjakova, Malisheva, Gjilan, Shtime, Istog, and Prizren, and as a result, some settlements supplied by the affected lines may have been impacted. Meanwhile, KOSTT and KEDS teams are working continuously on the ground to minimize the impact on the supply to citizens," the announcement states.

The announcement further states that similar problems were experienced in Fushë-Kosovë, but with the energizing of the new 110 kV substation last week, the load has been greatly eased, and the supply issue for the residents of this municipality has been addressed.

"In the coming week, the construction of the third substation in Ferizaj by KOSTT is expected to be completed, which will resolve supply issues in this municipality and ease the load on settlements supplied by the lines connected to this substation. In the first quarter of 2025, additional investments are planned for the municipalities of Malisheva and Dragash to provide long-term solutions for sustainable energy supply. Typically, the holiday period is characterized by a significant increase in electricity consumption, so ensuring supply security is critical," the ministry’s announcement continues.

In the coming week, to support the electricity system, the ministry has asked citizens to be as careful as possible with energy consumption, especially during the hours of 09:00-12:00 in the morning and 18:00-00:00 in the evening.

"Energy savings during these hours are essential to avoid overloads and maintain the system’s functionality for everyone. We urge citizens, where possible, to use alternative heating sources such as wood or pellets and to shift their electricity consumption to after midnight," the announcement concludes.