On April 22 2021, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Law on Energy Efficiency and Rational Utilization of Energy (hereinafter: the “Law”), which entered into force on 30 April 2021.
The Law is part of the energy package of laws that were adopted simultaneously and replaces the previous Law on Efficiency Utilization of Energy (“Official Gazette of the RS”, no. 25/2013)
Goals to be achieved with this Law are primarily defined as achieving energy savings and improving energy efficiency through its efficient utilization. The aim of the legislator is to contribute to the realization of energy savings, reducing the impact of the energy sector on the environment and climate change, security of its supply, as well as improving the competitiveness of the economy and conditions for economic development.
The harmonizing of legislation in the field of energy with the norms of the European Union is also one of the main purposes of adopting this Law, since a growing number of countries are turning to investments in so-called green technologies, which can lead to greater savings for Serbia, as well as to the creation of new workplaces.
The law consists of sixteen chapters and the most important novelties and provisions relate to:
- establishing the Administration for finance and incentive of energy efficiency, within the Ministry of Mining and Energy, whose task will be, inter alia, to grant incentives for energy efficiency, prepare project proposals for financing, as well as provide information and advice on energy efficiency;
- regulating the institute of energy service in more detail – an agreement between an energy service provider on one side, and on the other side, an expert who provides services in the field of energy efficiency in order to increase the level of energy efficiency of service users, so that now there exists an Agreement on energy performance and an Agreement on efficient energy supply;
- granting state subsidies to improve energy efficiency;
- introducing the obligation of energy inspections in large companies;
- prescribing measures of energy efficiency, controlling the energy efficiency of buildings, standardizing energy efficiency when performing energy activities and with end customers;
- introducing the institute of energy labeling of products that affect energy consumption and which can be placed on the market and/or commissioned only if they have an energy efficiency label, as well as the obligation of eco-design for them.
Disclaimer: The text above is provided for general guidance and does not represent legal advice.
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