CYPRUSNET

Articles and Advice » What Do you Want to Do with Your Cyprus Property? » Buy Cyprus Property for Private Use » Buy a Holiday Home » Consider Cyprus Property Management

Cyprus Utilities Connections

In Cyprus has highly developed infrastructure with electricity and water mains in all the towns and an excellent phone system although there is no mains gas. Most of the people use small gas bottles, which can be exchanged in supermarkets, or delivered. Other people have larger bottles, which are filled up on a regular basis during the winter by a gas provider.

Telephones and the Internet

Telephony is offered mostly by the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, CYTA. It has low fixed charge and the tariffs are one of the best in Europe. They also provide a free phone directory and yellow pages annually for every town, which you may find in the CYTA shop and in some supermarkets.

CYTA also provide Internet access, either dial-up or broadband. An alternative provider for Internet access is OTEnet, Primetel.

Mobile contracts represented by two companies: CYTA and MTN (formerly Areeba). An alternative way may be the “pay-as-you-go” system, with top-up cards that can be purchased in kiosks.

Paying Utility Bills

You will have to pay your phone bills monthly, electricity bills bi-monthly, and water bills quarterly. The phone companies are stricter about time of the payment, but the others allow you to pay later, though you will receive red reminder letters if you pay very late.

It is also possible to set up direct debit payments from your bank to cover utility bills, but many people prefer to pay by cash or cheque at the local office of the utility providers. Although it might be more efficient option for those who have online banking to pay online using website of the bank.

Sewerage and drainage bills come annually and they can be paid at a local Co-operative bank (for a small fee), or sometimes online at the jccsmart site.

Electricity in Cyprus

Electricity on the island is supplied by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC). In the view of the fact that Cyprus was British colony, the system is similar that in the UK.

Electricity tariffs have higher costs per unit if customer uses more than a basic amount of electricity every billing period, which is about two months.

Most of the homes have solar panels on the roof which help to heat water. On a sunny period with is lasts from about May to October there is no need for any electric water heating.

Electricity cables are overhead so that the installation is cheaper, but is case of storm damage is more expected.

Cyprus uses plugs with three square pins, which are similar to British ones. Some homes may have older style power points, but you can find new appliances and adapters in every store.

Water in Cyprus

Every town has its own Water Board, so water can be supplied to all houses. Water cost is a sliding tariff and it depends on use every billing period (generally three months), and local rates are determined by each municipality in Cyprus.

Most of the houses have a cold and a hot water tank, which stays on the roof or on a roof-high structure next to the house in order to provide sufficient pressure.

Every kitchen is usually equipped with hot and cold water taps that use water from the tanks; it has also a water tap that gets cold water directly from the mains. Normally this water is suitable for drinking, but many homes have an additional filtering system to make taste of water better or buying water in the stores.

Copyright © CyprusNet