New electricity formulas for needy families

By Constantinos Psillides

THE Elecricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) will work with the Energy and Labour ministries to come up with a different billing formula for families in need.

During a meeting on Thursday, attended by both Labour minister Zeta Aimilianidou and Energy minister Yiorgos Lakkotripis, EAC representatives proposed a number of suggestions to help  families that have fallen behind on their bill payments.

EAC spokesperson Christina Papadopoulou-Theofanidou told the Cyprus Mail that working teams with experts from all competent authorities will be set up to come up with a comprehensive solution to the problem. According to Theofanidou, about 14,500 families currently owe €1.5m in late payments.

Asked on when these teams are expected to be set up, she said that “it would take a while.”

EAC had announced that it wouldn’t flip the switch at any home during the winter months. The deadline for not cutting power expires today and according to Theofanidou it’s business as usual as of next week.

“On Monday we will notify all those that haven’t paid their bills so we can agree on a payment plan. Our employees have already started contacting consumers,” she said, adding that families in need will not be exempted.

“We will allow families that are classified as being in need with more time to make arrangements. If they don’t stick to the agreement then we will have to cut the power,” she said.

But there is a silver lining, as Energy ministry Lakkotripis announced that people on the Guaranteed Minimum Income welfare aid will be charged 20 per cent less for electricity.

EAC will proceed with the new scheme once the Labour ministry finalises the list of persons that benefit from the GMI.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.