The Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM) has decided to procure the required quantities of electricity for period February 16-29 from four selected companies, at an average prices of EUR 155.75 per MWh.

A decision over the procurement or annulment of the procedure for period March 1-15 will be passed in due time.

Taking into account that the average procurement price is lower than the one produced in thermal power plant Negotino, this capacity remains at disposal as 'cold reserve', said ELEM.

The average price of produced electricity from the Negotino plant is about EUR 160 per MWh.

At a press conference on Wednesday, MEPSO (Electricity Transmission System Operator of Macedonia) and power utility company EVN Macedonia appealed to citizens to respect the Government's decision on energy savings and do their best to reduce power consumption.

The power distribution system is stable, but the situation must be monitored on daily basis, MEPSO Director Dejan Boskovski said.