Albania among the region’s most expensive energy markets, 14% above Greece’s price

With an average price of 118.2 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh), Albania ranked among the most expensive wholesale electricity markets in 2025. The figure was about 14% higher than Greece’s and 9.5% above the price in North Macedonia.

These figures are part of the latest report by the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), which examines the integration of European energy markets and price differences between countries.

Compared with 2024, Albania’s average price increased by 6.2 euros/MWh. Over the same period, prices in Greece rose by 2.7 euros/MWh, widening the gap between the two markets.

On Greece’s day-ahead market, electricity cost an average of 103.6 euros/MWh, or 14.6 euros less than in Albania. The price was 107.9 euros/MWh in both North Macedonia and Serbia; it reached 106.9 euros/MWh in Bulgaria and 113.3 euros/MWh in Montenegro.

Among the markets included in the comparison, Kosovo had the highest average price, at 118.5 euros/MWh, just 0.3 euros above Albania’s level.

ACER notes that the Western Balkan countries that are part of the Energy Community continued to have high prices in the region. Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro recorded prices around 10–15 euros/MWh higher than those of their neighbors that are members of the European Union.

Prices rose across the region in 2025, but not at the same pace. The largest increase was recorded in Montenegro, at 14.8 euros/MWh. Prices rose by 4.5 euros/MWh in Kosovo, 5.5 euros/MWh in North Macedonia and 6.1 euros/MWh in Serbia.

Separate markets maintain price differences

According to ACER, the incomplete integration of energy markets in Southeastern Europe is one of the factors keeping price differences between countries large.

For a large share of the hours in the year, prices are similar across integrated European Union markets. At borders where this integration is absent, differences tend to be more pronounced.

Albania’s case clearly illustrates this contrast. At the border with Kosovo, where a joint energy market operates, the price difference was less than 1 euro/MWh during 99% of the hours in 2025. Such alignment occurred during only 4% of the hours at the border with Montenegro and 3% at the border with Greece.

The agency explains that, when markets are not integrated, exchanges between countries are scheduled before the final prices for the following day are known.

This process can limit the efficient use of cross-border capacity and lead to situations in which electricity does not flow in the direction that makes the most economic sense.

ACER considers that expanding market integration and increasing the capacity available for cross-border trade could help bring prices closer together.

The figures relate to the wholesale market and do not reflect the tariffs billed directly to households and businesses. However, they serve as an indicator of the costs and competitiveness of Albania’s energy market compared with neighboring countries.