EAC to increase number of car charging points

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) plans to install and operate ten more charging stations for electric vehicles next year, bringing the number across the island to around 30.

Two of the ten new hubs will be fast-charging stations, EAC chairwoman Despina Panayiotou-Theodosiou said.

Currently, there are nine charging stations in Nicosia district; eight in Limassol; one in Platres; four in Larnaca; two in Paralimni/Protaras; two in Paphos; and one in Polis.

In addition, two fast-charging stations are located on highways – one on the Nicosia-Limassol highway next to the Alfa Mega supermarket in Skarinou, and the other one on the Nicosia-Larnaca highway at the Alambra bus hub.

The aim, Theodosiou said, is to eventually install charging stations on all major highways in Cyprus.

The EAC official also spoke of the reduced VAT on household electricity bills – cut from 19 per cent to 5 per cent for vulnerable groups and 9 per cent for the rest, for six and three months respectively, starting November 1.

In addition to this, according to Theodosiou, the EAC has offered a 10 per cent discount to all of its customers from November 1 until the end of February amounting to around €24 m.

The state-run power corporation had likewise cut its rates last year, costing it around €32 million.

That first reduction had been instituted as relief to households amid the coronavirus-related lockdowns; the second, current, reduction aims to offset the rising cost of living.

Meantime the EAC is looking to establish a more robust presence on social media, with accounts on Twitter and on LinkedIn. It also has a channel on YouTube, which it plans to update with content more frequently.

Theodosiou advised people not to be taken in by various fake social media accounts purporting to belong to the EAC. She mentioned for example that the EAC does not currently have an account on Facebook.