The price increase for households will initially range from 10%-20%, but this will not be the end of the price hikes. So, let’s enjoy the current electricity price, as the next increase won’t sit well with us.
Source: Slobodna Bosna
It is now an undeniable fact that we are facing an increase in electricity prices. This increase is expected to occur at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026, as can be concluded from the analysis of the three-year Business Plan of JP EPBiH (2025-2027):
“Additionally, it is very important to present to customers and the public that the gradual increase in electricity prices, especially for households, considering production costs, market circumstances, legal regulations, and the need for energy transition, is absolutely necessary if we want to rely on domestic electricity sources in the long term, which will be more environmentally and climate-friendly than the current ones.
It is certain that in the next 2-7 years, there will be the introduction of fees or similar charges for CO2 emissions from thermal power plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will be up to the state and EP BiH to ensure that this happens gradually and with the lowest possible fees and costs.”
CORRECTION, BITTER TRUTH
hese statements are found on page 6 of the Bussiness Plan and vividly explain JP EPBiH’s intentions for the coming years. In the upcoming period, we expect education regarding electricity price corrections.
Furthermore, in Table 5.1 under the section for long-term and short-term sales within and outside BiH, electricity sales are planned at BAM 158,170,000. This would not be unusual if the actual sales in this section amounted to BAM 32,510,000 in 2023 and BAM 33,834,000 in 2024. In other words, a fivefold increase in electricity sales is planned in this section, which, given the production flows, is almost impossible. EP BiH planned electricity sales in this section for 2024 at BAM 122,000,000 but will achieve only BAM 33,000,000.
This practically means inflating business results for 2025, and when considering this data alongside the introduction of CO2 taxes from January 1, 2026, it is evident that the increase in electricity prices is inevitable.
IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE INCREASES
Moreover, for all entities on a market-based supply model, the price increase will take effect in about ten days, i.e., from January 1 of the coming year, with another hike scheduled for January 1, 2026. For these consumers, prices will increase by at least 20%!
PLANNED EXPENSES AND HIRING
JP EPBiH also plans to hire around a hundred new workers, which will cost the company about BAM 5,000,000 annually.
HAPPY NEW AND COSTLIER YEAR
Finally, household electricity prices will initially increase by 10%-20%, but this is not the end of the hikes. So, let’s enjoy the current electricity prices, as the next increase won’t be easy to bear.It is worth noting that exactly a month ago, Slobodna Bosna wrote about the Report on the Business Operations of EPBiH for 2023, which stated that the company ended that year with a BAM 331 million loss. Poor business performance at EP BiH was attempted to be rectified, as is often the case in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the backs of citizens through a 10% electricity price hike, which was implemented in August.
Despite poor results, the Government of FBiH did not demand accountability from the company’s management. The Federal Minister of Industry, Energy, and Mining, Vedran Lakić, recently stated that the loss was due to the failure to record the actual situation
over the past nine years, reiterating the points from the Business Report. Lakić mentioned that the FBiH Government does not plan another price hike, but he did not specify how long this would last. Judging by the Business Plan, this will remain the case until the end of the upcoming and “happy” New Year.