Boris Kirt: Elenger Added a Charge to Electricity Bills That Consumers Get Nothing For

Economist Boris Kirt has criticized Elenger, the largest privately-owned energy company in the Baltic-Finland region, for adding a charge to electricity bills that has no connection to actual costs. According to Kirt, this constitutes a new form of price manipulation at consumers' expense.

Economist Boris Kirt has raised the question of electricity market transparency once again, pointing to a move by Elenger, the largest privately-owned energy company in the Baltic-Finland region, to add a charge to consumers' bills that bears no relationship whatsoever to actual costs.

A tax without service

According to Kirt, this is a charge levied on top of cost-based pricing for which consumers receive no benefit whatsoever. This means consumers are effectively paying more without receiving any additional service or value in return.

The economist highlights this as yet another example of what he calls electricity rate anarchy-a situation where energy companies add charges to bills that are neither cost-justified nor transparent.

Consumer rights in question

Electricity market regulation should ensure that bills presented to consumers are understandable and justified. If energy companies can add charges without clear cost justification, this seriously undermines the effectiveness of consumer protection in Estonia and the entire Baltic-Finland region.

Kirt's criticism draws attention to a broader issue: is the current regulatory framework sufficient to protect consumers from the business practices of major players in the energy market?