Consumers Association slams electricity price hike

The Cyprus Consumers Association (CCA) on Monday strongly criticised the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) for the 38 per cent price hike set for August compared to the same month last year.

In a statement the CCA expressed its “disappointment and sadness”, adding that many families will not be able to afford the steep increase.

It also called on the EAC to acknowledge its own responsibilities and find ways to limit the 38 per cent rise.

The association said that the energy minister and the ministry cannot remain indifferent as the state also has responsibilities.

For its part, the EAC said last week that the historically low energy prices in 2020 were highly unusual – citing costlier fuel internationally as pushing up costs this year.

But the CCA hit back, saying that Cypriot consumers face among the highest electricity bills in the EU partly because “the EAC has left our place in the Middle Ages” as it produces its energy from oil which is subject to hefty fines from the EU.

The taxpayers in turn foot the bill for the fines placed on Cyprus from the EU.

The CCA further claimed that decades ago taxpayers were forced to pay millions for natural gas consuming generators which have not yet been used for this purpose.

Last week EAC spokesperson Christina Papadopoulou cited two other reasons for the price increase – the scrapping of the ten per cent discount to mitigate the impact of the pandemic that was in force from April to September 2020 and the steep hike in the cost of greenhouse gas emission rights.