Ministry for Communities and Returns together with Strpce Municipality did not manage to reach a compromise with the KEDS company to reconnect the electricity supply to collective centres in Brezovica, Serbian media reported.

The Ministry said in a press release that efforts to resolve the issue did not yield results, and it was said during the meeting with KEDS representatives that electricity will not be connected until tenants in collective centres pay debts from 2015 and onwards.

According to the previous agreement, Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Displaced Persons pays for 350 KW per room, while exceeding amount is paid by displaced persons.

However, KEDS said displaced persons living in collective centres often did not pay their bills and the debt accumulated. According to KEDS debts amounts to 47.000 euros.

The Ministry also said they would continue to look for ways on how to resolve this issue together with Strpce Municipality, noting that the Ministry provided housing to several families that still continue living in the collective centres and have the highest electricity consumption, as well as that residential buildings for all displaced persons living in collective centres would be completed by autumn this year.