Skopje, 19 October 2022 (MIA) – The Government, courts, Parliament, the President of the country, ESM and MEPSO managed to reduce electricity consumption by 20 percent in September 2022, compared to September 2021, according to the results of an analysis presented Wednesday by Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi. According to the analysis, if the electricity consumption data of only the administrative buildings of the ministries, the President of the country, Parliament, Government, ESM and MEPSO is taken into account the total electricity saved amounts to 25 percent. At the same time, six entities have reduced the consumption of electricity in September, but have not met the obliged 15 percent figure, while all the rest have achieved savings of 15-73 percent, most of them in the 25-35 percent range. Bekteshi said that only the administrative building of the Ministry of Local Self-Government has increased electricity consumption by 81 percent, while ESM’s administrative building has recorded the largest reduction at 75 percent. The electricity savings of the state-owned companies amounts to eight percent, this includes a total of 17 companies. The municipalities recorded a 29 percent reduction in electricity consumption in September. “According to the data, the electricity saved by the Government building amounts to 25 percent, 21 percent by the Ministry of Interior, 40 percent by the Ministry of Culture, 35 percent by the Ministry of Education and Science, 22 percent by the Ministry of Political System and Inter-Community Relations, 30 percent by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, 36 percent by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, 32 percent by the Ministry of Finance and 30 percent by the Ministry of Economy,” said Bekteshi Bekteshi stated that the lowest savings were recorded at the administrative building of the Ministry of Health amounting to two percent, followed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense with eight percent each. According to the analysis, Parliament reduced consumption by 20 percent, while the President’s Office recorded a reduction of 17 percent. “This data shows that if we act rationally and do not needlessly waste electricity, we can reduce consumption by a lot. If we were all to give our maximum contribution to the reduction of electricity consumption in the country, everyone can help tackle the energy crisis with the least possible consequences,” said Bekteshi. He stated that the situation in the field of energy, not just in North Macedonia, but also in the rest of Europe, is not a joke and that a reduction of a single percentage point amounts to a five percent lower consumption of fuels. “The heating season has begun and we should all focus on saving electricity in the upcoming period. A single small change in our daily habits can make a big difference,” said Bekteshi. The analysis also showed that a total of 111 institutions have not signed a contract for the supply of electricity and are paying much higher prices for electricity, i.e., HUPX prices + 20 percent. The Ministry of Economy submitted a set of recommendations and obligations to the Government aimed at reducing the consumption of electricity and heating energy for a safe winter. The measures entered into force on September 1, and all state administration bodies, state institutions and public enterprises were obliged to reduce their consumption of electricity by 15 percent on a monthly basis, compared to the same month of the previous calendar year, starting from September 1, 2022 through to March 31, 2023.ad/nn/