Macic stressed that the new Energy Law specifies and expands the Agency’s authority so that it now regulates the price of electric power and natural gas, monitors the energy market and energy activities and grants consent to the development plans of enterprises charged with transporting and distributing electrical power and natural gas. The Committee members were also presented the Agency’s 2012 expenditure and income plan, as well as the structure of the Agency’s planned number of employees in the coming year.

The Committee members were also informed on the methodology of used to determine the price of energy-generating products and possible plans to raise said price. They also discussed the use of renewable energy resources in Serbia with the Energy Agency Council President.

Following the debate, the Industry Committee unanimously adopted the Proposal of the Decision to grant consent to the Financial Plan of the Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia for 2012.

The Committee members also considered the request of the Partners PES Surdulica strike committee and union that their privatisation be reviewed. Committee Chairman Milorad Buha formed a Working Group which would, in contact with representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, Privatisation Agency and representatives of Partners PES Surdulica, submit a report to the Committee and a proposal of further steps the Committee should take in order to address the problems in the Partners PES Surdulica enterprise. The Working Group comprises Committee members Milan Lapcevic, Zoran Antic and Dragan Zivkov.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Milorad Buha.