Starting November 1, the Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPS) will shut down 106 payment counters nationwide. By February 1 of next year, payments will only be accepted at counters in six major cities: Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac and Kraljevo. Dejan Gavrilović from Ektevira claims that shifting consumers from EPS counters to alternative payment methods could generate a profit of €110,000 per month.
EPS justifies this decision as part of a cost rationalization strategy. However, Gavrilović disputes this reasoning, asserting that the employees at the counters will not be laid off and that the properties will not be sold or rented out, implying that EPS will still benefit financially from these locations.
He highlights that EPS has a contract with a bank that incurs a commission fee of 28 dinars for payments made through their app. Currently, only 13 percent of customers pay their electricity bills in EPS branch offices, and Gavrilović estimates that the transition to other payment methods will add an extra monthly cost of 30 dinars for consumers.
“This 13 percent largely consists of pensioners, who may not have access to smartphones and will likely turn to the post office for payments. That 30 dinar commission adds up to €110,000 each month,” he explained.
Last week, EPS announced that from November 1, customers using the “EPS Bill Insight” app and portal will receive a 30 dinar discount on their next bill if they pay through these platforms.
Banka Poštanska štedionica has also introduced a 30 dinar commission for citizens who pay EPS bills at their counters for amounts up to 6,000 dinars. Additionally, EPS offers a five percent discount for timely payments and allows consumers to opt for electronic bills, which come with an extra 50 dinar discount.
