Newsroom
Electrical appliances worth tens of thousands of euros were damaged in the village of Paliometocho after an incorrect voltage was supplied through the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) network, according to the president of the Cyprus Association of Electrical Contractors.
Giorgos Kyriakou said the number of affected households and the total financial cost to residents have not been fully determined. He said the EAC is aware of the incident to some extent but has not accepted responsibility.
Kyriakou said the case reflects what he described as ongoing injustice faced by Cypriot consumers. He referred to previous incidents during the installation of smart electricity meters, when homes and appliances were damaged. According to Kyriakou, those incidents were initially denied and were only acknowledged after intervention by the association.
He said that during discussions in Parliament, the EAC stated it would fully compensate those affected, regardless of insurance coverage. However, Kyriakou said this commitment was not fulfilled. He said residents who spent about €5,000 to replace damaged appliances received compensation of approximately €2,000.
Referring to the Paliometocho incident, Kyriakou said residents were instructed to replace damaged appliances first, with compensation to be assessed at a later stage. He said many households do not have the financial ability to absorb such costs upfront and that individual family needs and circumstances were not taken into account.
Kyriakou also criticized what he described as a discrepancy between official statements and practical outcomes, noting that public authorities frequently state their support for the middle class while acknowledging that many citizens live below the poverty line and that the minimum wage is insufficient for a dignified standard of living.
He also referred to a separate case in which the EAC charged customers for multiple television receivers while installing fewer units. According to Kyriakou, the authority said it would identify the errors and refund affected customers, but he questioned how many reimbursements were actually made. He said the issue was identified by the association while the EAC continued to collect payments.
Regarding residents affected in Paliometocho, Kyriakou said they incurred significant expenses during the holiday period and are now waiting to learn both when and how much they will be compensated. He said decisions affecting consumers should take into account the financial realities faced by low-income households.
