Ana Zagarcanin and Nikola Belosevic, a married couple from Bar, assert that the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG) is infringing upon their fundamental living conditions. They claim they are being compelled to pay an electricity debt that does not belong to them, while their appeals and legal requests have been disregarded, exacerbating their plight as their power has been cut off for a year. In contrast, EPCG maintains that they have acted within legal bounds to address this issue appropriately.

The couple resides in a house gifted to them in 2024; however, their electricity was disconnected due to a long-standing debt in the name of a deceased relative, a situation they argue has been overlooked, despite Zagarčanin being the legal heir. The outstanding debt originates from Belošević’s grandmother, with his father being the rightful heir to the property, which was passed down to him as a gift.

“We made efforts to settle the debt, but instead of a legal resolution, EPCG has cut off our electricity unilaterally—without my husband having signed any contract or received prior notice or the opportunity to discuss the issue. The debt was transferred to him as the gift recipient, resulting in our electricity being disconnected,” she explained.

Monthly Increases in Interest Rates

For ten months, they were unable to occupy their home, during which they faced escalating interest rates, and according to Zagarčanin, continual threats. Their situation has become dire, forcing them to return to inadequate living conditions after exhausting other alternatives.

While they have sought to assert their rights over the course of the year, Zagarčanin noted that a bill initially amounting to several thousand euros has unexpectedly increased by 500 euros.

She reported experiencing a lack of empathy, kindness, and legal adherence from various institutions. EPCG has filed a lawsuit against her husband, despite their absence from the house, and despite the debt being improperly attributed to him, she claims.

“The urgency of our situation is amplified as I enter my fifth month of pregnancy, increasing the risks to both my health and that of my baby daily. We have already endured significant psychological and physical consequences, and these will only worsen without access to basic living conditions and an ongoing violation of our human rights,” stated Ana Zagarčanin.

Zagarčanin emphasized that EPCG does not respond to their complaints, disregarding documentation and behaving as if they wield absolute power.

“From the director responsible for granting electricity reconnections to the service counter employees, we are facing intimidation, refusal to negotiate, and a lack of cooperation. On top of that, their conduct has been rude and demeaning,” she explained.

Additionally, she claimed that EPCG acted without notice, setting no deadlines for resolving the debt and disconnecting electricity without a signed contract with her husband as the new owner. The debt, which amassed interest over years, transferred from a deceased person’s account to his without proper oversight.

“He has not lived in the property since 2018, and when we attempted to move in in 2024, we were met with a power outage that rendered living there impossible, particularly in winter. We had no choice but to relocate into the house, facing an existence devoid of the basic right to electricity,” she stated.

Most of the debt consists of interest that has far surpassed the original amount owed prior to the responsible individual’s death and during the loan rescheduling period, she noted.

“With no electricity, heating, hot water, or sanitary conditions, our lives are reduced to a struggle for survival and health preservation. The justice system has turned a blind eye to our situation, disregarding my health, my pregnancy, and the fact that we are left to fend for ourselves,” she concluded in an interview with “Vijesti”.

EPCG: Multiple Repayment Options Presented

EPCG informed “Vijesti” that they had clarified to Belošević in early July of last year that the reconnection of electricity required payment of reconnection fees, execution costs, and the last two bills. This would create a protocol called “Let’s Share the Burden,” allowing for the settled payment of the outstanding electricity debt under favorable terms—repaying the debt with fixed monthly installments of 20 euros while maintaining current bill payments.

According to their records, he took these steps in October, with the account name changed and a contract signed in August.

In September 2021, EPCG sent a notification regarding the requirement to sign a Supply Contract due to the death of the registered customer.

In November 2022, the power supply was disconnected due to outstanding debts for electricity used at the connection cabinet, with disconnection recorded by their software. In mid-July of the preceding year, a remote reading and disconnect-capable electricity meter was installed at the metering point.

“Following the disconnection due to unpaid bills, no order for reconnection was initiated. Upon reviewing the energy log, we noted that consumption was recorded on the meter, indicating unauthorized reconnection. The couple was warned and invited to update the account name from the deceased; however, they did not respond, leading to unauthorized reconnections,” EPCG stated to “Vijesti”.

Additionally, they assert that this couple was offered various repayment options in discussions with officials in Bar, which included one-time settlement of total debt alongside execution and reconnection costs, with a proposal to waive unpaid interest in exchange for repaying the debt via the “Let’s Share the Burden” protocol.

When asked about the lawsuit against Belošević, they explained that several enforcement proceedings were initiated against his relative due to pre-existing liabilities. The continuation of that enforcement was requested upon the account’s transfer to Belošević’s name, after being halted due to the previous account holder’s death.

Disappointment with Judicial Actions

The young couple from Bar has expressed frustration with the judicial authorities, particularly the Bar Basic Court. Zagarčanin has reported ongoing neglect of their plea for a temporary order to protect them from energy isolation.

Their case has been assigned to Judge Vladana Rakočević, yet Court President Tamara Spasojević is allegedly avoiding all requests for discussions and the issuance of temporary measures to restore their electricity and ensure equitable proceedings, according to Zagarčanin.

Previously, Judge Boris Bulatović dismissed their case since at the end of December last year, they were reportedly not residing at the house, as detailed by lawyer Darko Hajduković, which Zagarčanin documented.

Tamara Spasojević, President of the Basic Court in Bar, informed “Vijesti” that a case was established based on Belošević’s proposal for a temporary order at the end of November of the previous year, directed against EPCG, which was subsequently prolonged by Judge Bulatović.

She stated that Judge Bulatović rejected the request for a temporary measure requiring the reconnection of electricity within three days. Lawyer Hajduković appealed this decision; however, it was deemed unfounded.

“From this, it can be inferred that the court acted appropriately and in a timely manner, contradicting Ana Zagarčanin’s claims of unanswered correspondence regarding urgent requests. I maintain that these assertions are inaccurate,” Spasojević stated in response to the couple’s allegations.

Furthermore, she asserted that only a single request for court admission was filed under her name, submitted by Zagarčanin on April 1 of this year, after which complicated arrangements were made to contact her. However, Zagarčanin later declined an appointment once she learned a decision had already been reached.

Zagarčanin reiterates their resolve, refusing to succumb to EPCG’s pressure.

“I have also written to the President of the Supreme Court, and I will continue to email daily to emphasize the significance of this issue to the public. We are utterly fatigued from waiting silently only to be disregarded,” concluded Ana Zagarčanin.

Zagarčanin: EPCG Breaches Multiple Laws

Zagarčanin contends that EPCG has violated several legal statutes regarding their treatment. This includes the Law on Obligations, which outlines the need for collaboration between involved parties in legal proceedings.

She highlights the infringement of Article 27 of the Consumer Protection Law, requiring service providers to respond, which she asserts they have failed to do adequately. She raises concerns about the infringement of their rights under the Law on Inheritance and other legal protections established by the Law on Energy, the Constitution of Montenegro, international human rights treaties, and EPCG’s internal regulations…

News