THE ELECTRICITY Authority of Cyprus (EAC) said yesterday it would allow those with unpaid bills to join its instalment scheme, which spreads out the cost over a 12-month period.
“To help household consumers who are facing difficulties pay their bills, the EAC decided that from now own, consumers with unpaid bills can be included in the current monthly instalment scheme,” the authority announced.
Under the scheme, consumers can pay a fixed amount every month to be calculated based on their estimated usage. At the end of the 12-month period, the amount is then adjusted either up or down, depending on actual consumption throughout the period.
“The monthly instalment is determined by the EAC, after it has taken into account the electricity consumption history of the house and the current price of fuel,” it said.
It added that the instalments could be revised, if needed, so consumers were not left with large outstanding amounts after completing the 12-month cycle.
“It is noted that the real amount a consumer will be charged after joining the scheme, will be no different to what would have been paid if they didn’t join the scheme,” said the EAC.
Electricity consumption will be checked as normal, on a bi-monthly basis.
“At the end of the 12-month cycle, the amount payable and amount that was paid over the past 12 months will be compared,” the authority explained. “The difference will be charged or credited to the customer, depending on each case. The final payable or returnable amount will be shared out over the next 12 instalments.”
Meanwhile, main opposition party DISY yesterday called on the government to adopt its proposal to reduce VAT to 8.0 per cent on household electricity bills, with EDEK offering its informal approval of the measure.
DISY vice president – and Chairman of the House Commerce Committee – Lefteris Christoforou said the various charges on electricity bills had exceeded 30 per cent and called on the government to reduce VAT to counteract the effects.
“The government needs to understand that Cypriot consumers can’t consume €100 of electricity and have to pay €130 due to the added taxes that bills have been burdened with,” said Christoforou.
He added that the government was using electricity bills as a means to impose taxes. “DISY will exhaust all margins until the government shows the least bit of social sensitivity,” said Christoforou.
EDEK’s George Varnava said his party “initially agree” with DISY’s proposal and called on the government to put an end to its tax-imposing policies.
For more information on the EAC instalments scheme, visit www.eac.com.cy or visit the authority’s customer service centres.
