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Here’s a number that makes you blink: €276.1 million.
That’s the value of electricity supplied over the years to the occupied areas of Cyprus and never billed or collected, according to a new report by the Audit Office.
The findings, published this week as part of a special review of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), say power has been flowing to Turkish Cypriot areas since 1964. But as of Dec. 31, 2022, the total cost of that electricity, without interest, had climbed to more than a quarter of a billion euros.
Let that sink in.
In 2022 alone, the value of electricity supplied came to €1.3 million, and that figure relates only to Turkish Cypriot properties in the mixed village of Pyla. All other supply lines to non-government-controlled areas were disconnected by 2014, mainly those serving Pergamos and Acheritou.
Here’s where it gets even more complicated: in Pyla, the EAC has not installed meters at Turkish Cypriot properties. That means there’s no precise record of how much electricity each property uses, and no way to bill per household or business.
The Audit Office says this doesn’t just raise financial concerns. It also flags possible legal issues.
For one, there’s the principle of equal treatment under administrative law. In simple terms, is everyone being treated the same? That question becomes sharper when electricity is used for business activity. The watchdog also points to a potential issue of state aid, meaning some could argue that free or unbilled electricity amounts to indirect support.
The recommendation is clear: take steps to bill for the electricity provided and recover what’s owed.
But according to a written response sent in September 2025 by the EAC’s director general, the situation stems from a political decision.
