Price hikes and the high cost of living are sweeping while government is unmoved

 

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas

15 February 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

New electricity increases are coming, but the government is neither moved, nor doing anything to protect consumers. New increases in electricity due largely to the government’s failure to both bring in natural gas and promote renewable sources of energy. This is precisely why in 2022 all consumers will pay over 183 million euros to buy pollutants rights.

AKEL once again calls on the government to listen to our proposals. Proposals that can provide immediate relief to households and businesses:

1. VAT on electricity should be reduced to 9% for as long as the international price increases continue.
2. The RES charge and the fee for public utility services on electricity bills should be abolished.
3. More consumers should be included in the reduced electricity tariff by broadening the Cyprus Electricity Authority’s criteria.
4. The lowest price tendering for RES should at long last proceed so that the cheapest electricity can be bought from photovoltaics, while paying a handful of big businessmen 5 times that what other European countries are paying shouldn’t continue.

Solutions exist. There is no will on the part of the government.