Kosovo Faces Economic Shock as KEDS Cuts Power to Hundreds of Businesses
Kosovo’s business community is sounding the alarm after the Kosovo Energy Distribution and Supply Company (KEDS) began mass disconnections of enterprises that have not entered the free electricity market. The move, carried out under orders from the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO), has already cut off around 450 businesses and identified more than 1,400 electricity meters for disconnection.
The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OEK) warned that the forced liberalization of the energy market could have devastating social and economic consequences. In a strongly worded statement, the Chamber said the disconnections “risk leaving at least 22,000 workers unemployed, severely affecting their families, the domestic economy, and the social stability of the country.”
“This arbitrary and irresponsible action is increasing the consumption prices of two million citizens and is pushing businesses toward collapse,” the Chamber said.
The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, along with the Kosovo Business Alliance (DTHK), have rejected the ERO’s decision, calling it both unjust and dangerous. They argue that many businesses are caught in legal limbo, with temporary contracts in place and pending court rulings, making the disconnections premature.
“In any other country, such a threat of job losses would raise immediate alarm,” the Chamber added. “In Kosovo, institutions are choosing to remain silent, making themselves co-responsible for the dire consequences that lie ahead.”
Economic analysts warn that the disconnections could trigger a chain reaction:
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Closure of hundreds of businesses
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Loss of domestic production capacity
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Increased reliance on imports
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Rising consumer prices
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Worsening poverty levels
The Chamber has urged Kosovo’s government and parliament to immediately intervene, arguing that without action, the country could face severe economic destabilization.
With tensions rising between regulators, utilities, and businesses, the crisis underscores the fragile balance of Kosovo’s energy and labor markets. For now, employers and workers alike remain in limbo — waiting to see if government institutions will step in to halt what business leaders describe as a “violent and unjust process” that could destroy the foundations of the economy.