ZAGREB, Dec 27 (Hina) - As of January 1, 2002, 16 big power consumers will be able to choose their power supplier, that is, they will be able to choose whether to continue buying power from the Croatian power company (HEP) or to
import it if cheaper. This is, however, only one of many novices for 2002 as a series of laws, particularly related to economy, awaiting implementation, concretely a package of energetics-related laws - on energy, the regulation of energy activities, the electric power market, the oil and petroleum products and the gas market which the parliament adopted in mid July. The first concrete step in the liberalisation of the power market is the possibility of so-called big consumers choose their power or gas supplier. In case one of the big consumers, such as the Sisak Ironworks or Dalmacijacement, decide not to purchase the power from the HEP but to import it due to lower prices, th
ZAGREB, Dec 27 (Hina) - As of January 1, 2002, 16 big power consumers
will be able to choose their power supplier, that is, they will be
able to choose whether to continue buying power from the Croatian
power company (HEP) or to import it if cheaper.
This is, however, only one of many novices for 2002 as a series of
laws, particularly related to economy, awaiting implementation,
concretely a package of energetics-related laws - on energy, the
regulation of energy activities, the electric power market, the oil
and petroleum products and the gas market which the parliament
adopted in mid July.
The first concrete step in the liberalisation of the power market is
the possibility of so-called big consumers choose their power or
gas supplier.
In case one of the big consumers, such as the Sisak Ironworks or
Dalmacijacement, decide not to purchase the power from the HEP but
to import it due to lower prices, the system operator or distributor
is obliged to provide them an impartial access to a transfer network
which requires certain compensation.
The HEP and another oil company INA announced the increase of
natural gas and electric power. Attention is focused on the start of
work of an independent regulator on the power source market - a
council for the regulation of various power activities including
the tariff system. The council will be responsible for the issuing
of permits for performing power-related activities, the defining
of terms and expenses of an access to any power grid, the use of grid
so to avoid the abuse of monopoly of the owner or grid users etc.
With regard to a delay in passing decrees, it is expected the
liberalisation of power will begin January 1, 2002, on paper, while
it would be gradually carried out in practice.
(hina) np sb