In Serbia, heating plants are set to begin supplying thermal energy on October 15, marking the official start of the heating season, according to the Ministry of Mining and Energy. Meetings with representatives from 60 heating plants confirmed that adequate energy supplies have been secured and all maintenance work has been successfully completed.
Officials from the heating plants mentioned that heating could commence earlier if weather conditions necessitate it.
In total, 60 cities and municipalities in Serbia have district heating systems, with only 16 or 17 of them using a pay-per-consumption model. Dejan Stojanović, the director of the Association of Heating Plants of Serbia, noted that local governments are responsible for decisions regarding any potential increases in heating prices.
As per regulations, heating plants must submit their requests for price adjustments by September 1. Local authorities then evaluate these requests and notify the heating plants of their decisions.
Belgrade’s heating companies have requested approval from the Secretariat for Energy for new thermal energy prices for the upcoming 2024/2025 heating season, proposing an increase of approximately 9% starting October 1.
For residential areas, the variable energy price is suggested to rise from 7.33 dinars per kilowatt-hour (KWh) to 7.75 dinars per KWh, excluding value-added tax (VAT). For commercial spaces, the price would increase from 8.94 dinars per KWh to 9.46 dinars per KWh, also excluding VAT.
Additionally, the fixed charge for capacity for both residential and commercial properties is proposed to increase from 4,862.72 dinars per kilowatt annually to 5,456.72 dinars.
The proposed increase for residential properties based on heated area and installed capacity would raise the annual cost from 1,449.32 dinars per square meter to 1,578.67 dinars per square meter, representing an 8.92% increase. For commercial properties, the price would rise by 8.93%, changing from 14,978.29 dinars per KW to 16,315.43 dinars per KW, excluding VAT.
The heating season in Belgrade officially runs from October 15 to April 15. However, heating may also be provided from October 1 to 14 and from April 16 to May 3, if the Serbian Republic Hydrometeorological Institute forecasts a daily average temperature below 12 degrees Celsius.
Other heating plants across Serbia follow a similar schedule.
