Electricity consumption in the household sector in November is 14% higher than in the same month in 2022, according to data from the Montenegrin electricity distribution system (CEDIS). The main reason is the transition of a large number of users to electric heating, as it is cheaper than using wood, pellets, or other fuels.
The price of electricity is almost the same as it was 15 years ago, while in the meantime, the prices of other fuels have significantly increased, especially pellets and wood in the past two years. The price of a ton of pellets now ranges from 250 to 320 EUR per ton, and a cubic meter of wood from 70 to 80 euros.
A 2.5 kWh (kilowatt-hours) thermal storage heater (TA) operating at full capacity for ten hours a day consumes 750 kWh per month, which is around 75 EUR at current prices.
The Regulatory Agency for Energy and Regulated Communal Services (REGAGEN) approved a 5.6% increase in electricity prices from January due to an increase in items for CEDIS. At the same time, the Board of Directors of Electric power distribution company approved a discount for regular payers and consumers using less than 500 kWh per month in the same amount as their part of the electricity bill. So, essentially, the final price of electricity for the majority of consumers remains the same.
Prepared for winter despite the increase in consumption
Electricity consumption in the coming months could be even higher, especially if the cold period persists. When asked if there is a danger that an increase in electricity consumption due to colder weather could threaten the stability of the grid, CEDIS states that the network is stable due to investments made in recent years.
- There is no danger to the distribution system from an increase in consumption in the coming period, considering that numerous activities have been carried out in the previous period to prepare the distribution network for the upcoming winter season – stated the company.
They say that they have recorded an increase in consumption by users of the distribution system since the beginning of last year.
- The taken electricity in the first 11 months of 2023 amounted to 2,608,179,239 kWh, which is 113,377,820 kWh, or 4.35% more than in the same period in 2022. In November 2023, there was an increase in distribution consumption, when the taken electricity of distribution customers was higher by 13.45% compared to November 2022. When it comes to household consumers, they consumed 122,028,952 kWh of electricity in November 2023, which is 13.97% more than in November 2022. In December 2023, there is also a noticeable significant increase in the consumption of electricity by distribution consumers compared to December 2022 – stated the company at the end of December.
