I am almost 100% sure that this is, in part, caused by the recent crypto mining surge. Or at the very least was a catalyst for something that's been cooking for 20 years now.

I have no evidence to back this claim, only anecdotal info as I know some people in the area: The Serbian minority in the north does not pay for electricity in Kosovo due to a long standing disagreement with Pristina. The Kosovo government so far managed to find ways to compensate for that, either through loans or by charging more people in other areas.

However, I'm guessing, the bills skyrocketed when the crypto mining craze started so Pristina decided to stop footing the bill.

I've heard of thousands of mining rigs being set up in the area, largely due to the free electricity. So now there's no more free electricity but there is a huge demand and nobody is paying. Hence the deviations.

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/government-pays-a-mi...

edit: wording