Balkan Barometer: 55% of Albanians prioritize reducing energy tariffs

For more than half of Albanian citizens, lowering energy prices is the most urgent issue in the energy sector. However, this does not diminish support for the transition to renewable sources.

The 2025 Balkan Barometer shows that 55% of respondents in Albania rank lower prices as the top priority, 12 percentage points above the Western Balkans average of 43%.

Meanwhile, 60% support increasing investment in solar, wind and hydropower, even if this leads to higher costs in the short term.

When asked what direction the country’s energy policy should take, Albanians put prices clearly ahead of other options.

After lower prices, chosen by 55%, come investment in renewable energy at 23%, the security and reliability of supply at 12%, reducing dependence on imports at 7%, and lowering the environmental impact of energy production at 3%.

Concern about energy costs in Albania is above the regional average, but is not the highest. In Kosovo, 76% of citizens rank lower prices as their top priority. The same choice is made by 42% in North Macedonia, 34% in Montenegro, 28% in Serbia and 25% in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The latter is a special case in the region, as investment in renewable sources, at 37%, ranks ahead of lower prices.

Despite their sensitivity to prices, most people support investment in green energy. In Albania, 60% favor increasing investment in renewable sources, even if this results in higher prices in the short term.

Some 31% oppose this approach, while 9% have not given a definite answer. The regional average for support is 63%.

Albania’s figure is 3 percentage points below the regional average, but support remains clear. Montenegro leads, with 70% of citizens accepting greater investment in renewable energy even if costs rise temporarily.

Next are Bosnia and Herzegovina at 64% and Kosovo at 63%. Albania, at 60%, is slightly ahead of North Macedonia and Serbia, both at 59%.

The report puts Albanians’ satisfaction with their energy supply, including its reliability and affordability, at an average of 3.5 out of 5.

This is the highest score among the six Western Balkan economies. Kosovo scored 3.4; Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia each scored 3.3; and Montenegro scored 3.2. The regional average is 3.3.

In Albania, 42% say they are satisfied and 19% very satisfied with the current energy supply, bringing positive responses to 61% overall. On the other hand, 8% are very dissatisfied and 15% dissatisfied, while 18% are neutral.