Employees of the Electricity authority of Cyprus (EAC) have announced a three-hour work stoppage on March 18, from 8am to 11am, to protest what they described as “serious problems” that remain unresolved while the state focuses on “imaginative and unfounded proposals”.

In a statement on Friday, their trade unions warned that if solutions were not found, they would escalate their measures.

In a letter to the EAC board of directors, the unions said the situation in the energy sector was worsening due to the absence of strategic planning, adding that the repercussions were burdening consumers and the wider economy.

Other factors contributing to what they described as a “painful situation” had to do with delays and inaction.

“We regret to say that the problems remain unsolved and we furthermore see actions on behalf of the state that exacerbate the situation”, they said.

The trade unions explained that, “instead of the state dealing with everything that has to be done in the energy sector to secure electricity adequacy, supply security, consumer support and photovoltaics, truly for everyone, it is spending its time on imaginative and unfounded proposals, which are turning into a fiasco, increasing instead of decreasing the cost of electricity”.

On February, 27, EAC workers staged a two-hour work stoppage, to protest what they described as “erratic” government policies in the energy sector and plans to allow the Cyprus telecommunications athority (Cyta) to enter the energy market.