Montenegrin Electricity Distribution System continuously carries out activities aimed at reducing losses and increasing the efficiency and reliability of the distribution system. During the first quarter of this year, losses in the distribution network amounted to 11.62 per cent of electricity, representing an improvement compared with the same period in 2023, when they stood at 12.27 per cent.
During the first three months of this year, the energy taken over amounted to 816,244.47 MWh. Losses were reduced to 94,837.80 MWh (11.62%), representing a reduction from 100,184.61 MWh (12.27%), recorded in the first quarter of 2023. The resulting savings compared with the same period last year amounted to 5,346.81 MWh. Multiplying this by the contracted price per MWh for 2024 (€ 100.59) gives total savings of €537,835.40.
The results in terms of reducing losses are more than evident, particularly considering that these savings relate to just one quarter of the year. As the Company explains, to provide the public with a better understanding of the above, network losses indicate the degree of business efficiency and the quality of electricity distribution activities. Their reduction is therefore one of the distribution system operator’s priority business objectives.
“Last year, losses were consistently reduced by more than 0.5 per cent month on month, while the volume of electricity taken over continued to increase. In September last year, we achieved the lowest level of losses ever recorded in Montenegro’s electricity distribution system, when losses stood at 8.10 per cent, which was also below the regulatory loss allowance approved for that year.” – said Vaso Zeković, Head of the Metering Sector.
Zeković explains that the key factors contributing to the reduction in losses are the actions carried out by the Metering Sector, primarily the campaign to detect illegal users, the campaign to monitor losses in transformer areas, and the project to expand Phase III of AMM.
In addition to all the activities carried out, CEDIS is also facing unplanned construction, which has been expanding for years. As a result, existing infrastructure is being subjected to unplanned loads, increasing maintenance costs and diminishing the effects of investment.
We would like to conclude by noting that, despite the problems placing a serious financial burden on us, particularly amid global uncertainty in energy markets, we are managing to save significant financial resources and plan to end the current year with losses below 10%.
