Data from the Energy Regulatory Authority of Albania show that in August, the value of interest-delays as a result of non-payment of electricity bills on time by Albanian households reached 45.2 billion lek [382 million euros].

Although down compared to previous years, arrears remain high while citizens are suffering from the price crisis.

In the first half of the year, the number of invoices issued by the energy distribution operator OSHEE reached almost 6 million.

Of these, more than 2.2 million, or more than 37 percent of the total, were overdue.

Other elderly people find solace in paying the electricity bill in their children.

In addition to ordinary citizens, debts to the Electricity Distribution Operator have increased businesses, government and water utilities.

The liabilities of enterprises have reached 12.1 billion ALL, while those of the central government, together with the water supply companies plunged into crisis, amount to 23 billion ALL.

Given that the country has been in a state of supply emergency for 10 months, combined with drought and salty prices in the stock market, the increased debts to OSHEE increase the risk of collapse in the energy sector.

/A2 CNN/