Energy Law adopted

BELGRADE - Serbian MPs adopted on Monday the Energy Law by majority vote, which envisages easier investing in the energy domain, ensures greater protection of buyers and adjusts this economic field with the EU regulations.

Starting from January 1, 2015, under the new Energy Law, Serbia will be fully implementing all measures of the European Union's Third Energy Package relevant to the sectors of gas, electric power and renewable energy sources, which will make Serbia the first country in the region to implement all these provisions.

Pursuant to the new law, the state will be allowed to have one or more operators of the electricity distribution system, which will have to apply the same tariffs, and conditions have been created for establishing and functioning of the electricity market.

Households and small buyers using less than 30,000 kWh annually will be able to choose electricity and gas suppliers, and also have a possibility of guaranteed supply.

In the coming year, RSD 700 million dinars will be set aside for those who cannot pay for electricity, and they will get 120-240 kilowatt hours of electricity per month and certain quantities of gas for free.

According to the Energy Agency, there are currently over 80 licensed power suppliers and 33 natural gas suppliers.
The new law allows foreign companies to obtain power supply licenses as well, without necessary registration in the territory of Serbia.

The law defines much of the administrative procedure, which creates the conditions needed for investing in energy production facilities that use renewable sources.

It improves the procedures related to renewable energy production, which provides better conditions for investors, since...