Wrote: Fatbardh Dema
Through a Facebook post, a page claimed that "3 by 3" power cuts will begin in Kosovo from December 19th.
The post was made by the page ""New Kosovo" on December 18. The caption with this claim was placed on an image that read: “KOSTT warns of power cuts in several large municipalities, due to increased energy consumption.”
The truth?
Authorities have not announced power cuts of this size and have not specified when the reduction could begin.
KOSTT is the Electricity System, Transmission and Market Operator of Kosovo, a public company with 100% state-owned shares. In a notification On December 18, KOSTT said that consumption had increased during peak hours and called for increased caution from citizens to avoid overloads. KOSTT said that operating under overload conditions could impose the implementation of controlled and temporary reductions in supply, but did not specify the methodology as claimed “3 by 3”, meaning three hours with power and three hours without it.
In no case, does this announcement state "tomorrow" or "December 19" as the day for the start of the reductions.
On this announcement, the information portal "Signal.com" has published an article titled "KOSTT warns of power cuts in several large municipalities, due to increased energy consumption". It did not mention the methodology for the cuts or when they could begin. With this title, this information portal on its website at Facebook has also published an image.
The website "Kosova e Re" has taken this image and added a description claiming that "3 by 3" reductions will begin tomorrow (December 19). In its post, this website has covered up the "Sinjali.com" logo. (see pictures below)
Also, hibrid.info has requested through "Google" and has not found any credible media or source of information that has emphasized that the reductions will be in the "3 by 3" format.
The publication, up to the moment of treatment by hibrid.info, has received around 50 reactions, over 30 comments and 3 shares.
Based on the comments on the post on the "Kosova e Re" page, readers have given it a political connotation by criticizing the current government.
Analyze:
The claim from the "Kosova e Re" Facebook page about the start of "3 by 3" electricity reductions from December 19 is false.
Such a claim has not been found published in any credible media or source of information.
KOSTT, as the responsible authority, has warned that if citizens do not save electricity, there is a possibility of controlled reductions, without specifying the form or date.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses this claim as "Fake News".
Reasoning:
The “Fake News” rating is given to informational content that is entirely fabricated or that contains factually incorrect claims or information. Content that is rated as fake news can be defined as having been created and distributed with the intent to misinform the public, i.e., to present a claim that is completely false as fact.