Delays in planning and implementing electricity transmission and distribution projects in Serbia have increased costs by at least 120 million dinars, according to the State Audit Institution (DRI). These extra costs include fees for unused credit funds.
The audit found that Elektrodistribucija Srbije (EDS) failed to efficiently manage projects due to delays in planning, lack of internal procedures, and insufficient preparation and execution of investments, resulting in higher costs and unreliable reporting.
Key findings include:
- The “EDS Metering” project for smart meters and related systems achieved only 12% completion.
- The acquisition of measuring devices between 2021–2024 reached just 14% of planned targets.
- Distribution system losses decreased from 11.22% in 2022 to 10.37% in 2024 but remained higher than planned.
- Investments by Elektromreža Srbije achieved 60–90% of targets, with delays increasing costs by around 46 million dinars due to unused credit fees.
- Transmission technical losses remain low and within European standards, but project implementation shows room for improvement.
The Ministry of Mining and Energy established strategic and regulatory frameworks and monitored investments, but reporting on supply security and oversight of capital projects was delayed.
Overall, the report highlights inefficiencies in project management that have led to increased costs and slower implementation of modernization initiatives in Serbia’s electricity system.
