Čavalić for NAP: We have prepared a Request for constitutional review of electricity price hike, I appeal to Lendo to submit it to the Constitutional Court

(Patria) - Lawyer Mirnes Ajanović and federal representative Admir Čavalić have prepared a Request for constitutional review of the Block tariff model that has been applied in the Federation of BiH since today.

It is about a discriminatory model of electricity billing applied by JP Elektroprivreda BiH d.d. Sarajevo.

This model has a disincentive effect on natalist policies, as it directly penalizes households with a larger number of members.

Electricity is a basic, not a luxury good, and it is unacceptable that the burden of payment is greater for households with more children - and not for those with higher incomes and a higher standard of living - as previously communicated.

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Novi način obračuna potrošnje električne energije za domaćinstva po tarifama, objavljeno uputstvo

(Patria) - Obračun potrošnje električne energije za kupce iz kategorije domaćinstva od danas će biti vršen po cijenama utvrđenih Odlukom Regulatorne komisije za energiju u FBiH o davanju saglasnosti JP Elektroprivreda BiH na prijedlog cijena s

Ajanović and Čavalić recall that the Constitutional Court of the entity RS previously determined that such a model is not in accordance with the RS Constitution.

The explanation states that this places end customers within the same tariff group, who consume more electricity, in a less favorable position, which is contrary to the constitutional principle prohibiting discrimination. Also, FERK rejected this model last year.

The Request has been sent to the Office of the Vice President of the Federation of BiH, Refik Lendo, for further action. Since this is not a legal solution but a billing model, the Vice President is the only legitimate submitter of the request to the Constitutional Court of the Federation of BiH.

Citizens of the Federation of BiH, especially families with children, expect this request to be submitted and for the Constitutional Court of the Federation of BiH to confirm whether the application of Block tariffs is in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Federation of BiH.

Ajanović and Čavalić emphasize that the competent institutions have not yet created a social map, nor has Elektroprivreda BiH defined subsidies for families with more children.

In a brief interview with the Patria News Agency (NAP), Čavalić said he expects that Lendo could submit their Request to the Constitutional Court of the Federation of BiH as early as next week.

- But to be honest, we have no feedback on whether he will accept it. I expect him to accept it in the interest of the citizens of the Federation of BiH, and if necessary, to supplement that Request. Our part was to do it.

To be honest, I would have done it through 33 representatives, but colleague Ajanović concluded based on earlier court rulings that, since it is not a legal solution, we cannot do it as a Parliament.

That is why it is for the President/Vice Presidents of the Federation of BiH - Stojanović, Lendo, Bradara - whoever is ready to do it now, and we sent it to the Office of Refik Lendo - Čavalić points out.

If the Constitutional Court of the Federation of BiH were to accept their Request, he explains, there would be no increase in electricity prices for citizens, especially for those with larger households.

- The focus here is not on the price increase, but on the injustice in terms of that model based on which the price increase was made - the green, blue and red tariffs were formed.

That Block tariff actually penalizes not necessarily the wealthy, but those with a larger number of family members, and that is the essential problem because it creates market discrimination.

I publicly appeal to Mr. Lendo to accept it and submit it to the Constitutional Court of the Federation of BiH. Perhaps the Constitutional Court will say there is no discrimination, and then we will stick with this new model - says Čavalić.

Given that a similar request was accepted by the Constitutional Court of the RS, Čavalić expects the Constitutional Court of the Federation of BiH to act in the same way.

- In any case, the Request for constitutional review is ready, we are waiting for the submitter to react and forward it. And if it reaches the Constitutional Court of the Federation of BiH, I am convinced that the outcome could be positive - added Čavalić.