Utilities in Cyprus

Like most of Western Europe, there is mains electricity and water in all the towns in South Cyprus, and an excellent phone system.  There is no mains gas, however.  Most people use small bottles of gas, which can be exchanged outside most supermarkets, or delivered.  others have larger bottles, which are filled up regularly during the winter by a gas provider.  

Electricity

Electricity has been available in Cyprus since very early in the 20th century, and is supplied by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC).   It was first made available by the British colonials who were running the island at the time, and the system has remained similar to that in the UK, with plugs using the square three-pin system found in the UK.   Appliances sold in shops are required to be fitted with the standard plug or to have an adaptor.

Electricity tariffs are on a scale, with higher costs per unit if customers use more than a basic amount each billing period (which is about two months).   In 2007 the cost for domestic customers of the first 120 units in a billing period is 4.15c each (£7.28 for 120), 4.61c each for the next 200 units, 4.86c each for the next 180, 5.10c each for the next 500, and 5.20c each for any more.  These prices have remained the same for four years.  

Most homes have solar panels on the roof which help towards heating water.  On a sunny day from about May to October, there is no need for any extra power for water heating - solar energy heats the hot water tank sufficiently to provide water for showering and washing dishes.  However washing machines and dishwashers are usually plumbed into the cold water system only, so they do use extra power to heat the necessary water.   During the cooler part of the year, or when the day is overcast, we find it necessary to turn our electric water heater on for up to an hour to provide sufficient hot water for showers.  

Electricity cables are overhead rather than buried - this means instlallation is cheaper but storm damage more likely.  It also leads to a rather ugly skyline, with not just water tanks and satellite dishes, but also overhead cables almost everywhere.  

Most standard white goods and appliances can be bought at electrical stores or supermarkets:  washing machines, fridges and dishwashers are common, although tumble driers are less so.  In a climate where the sun shines for about 360 days of the year, most people hang laundry out to dry.  Microwave ovens, electric kettles, irons, toasters, etc are to be found in most kitchens, and there are a gradually increasing number of other appliances available, such as steamers, breadmakers, juice extractors, and so on.  There is not the vast choice of the UK, but usually two or three options can be found.  

Water

Each of the main towns has its own Water Board, and mains water can be supplied to all houses.  As with electricity, the cost is a sliding tariff depending on use every billing period (generally three months).   In 2007 the first 30 cubic metres cost 19c each;  the next level is significantly higher - 43c per cubic metre.  However as we've never used more than 50 cubic metres in a billing period, we don't know if it rises still further for  higher usage.  

Most houses have both a cold and a hot water storage tank, generally on the roof or on a roof-high structure next to the house to provide sufficient pressure.   The kitchens are usually equipped with hot and cold water taps that use water from the tanks, and also a mains water tap that gets cold water directly from the mains.   This is suitable for drinking, although many homes put in an additional filtering system to make it taste better.  Water from the tanks may also be drinkable, if the tanks are new and the water is used regularly, but some homes have old and rusty water tanks, sometimes with holes that allow insects inside, so it's not advisable to drink from them!

Water provision is an ongoing problem in Cyprus, with lack of rainfall in recent years meaning that reservoirs are often only about 25% full by the end of the winter rains.  Until 2001 water was restricted, with mains water only being switched on two or three times per week.  People learned to keep mains water in bottles for drinking, and to limit their washing machines and garden watering to days when the water was on.  Te building of a de-salination plant after a series of particularly dry winters led to water being on almost constantly, and inevitably people started taking water for granted.  Despite hose-pipe bans and on-the-spot fines for using hoses, many Cypriots wash their patios and even the pavement in front of their homes two or three times per week, with water pouring out of hoses.  

After two more dry winters, water restrictions were introduced again at the end of March 2008, with mains water on for about 12 hours in every 48.

Mains drainage is slowly being introduced, in line with European regulations, but at present many houses have septic tanks rather than being connected to the mains for waste water.  

Telephones and Internet

Telephony is provided, for the most part, by the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, CYTA (pronounced SEE-ta).  The fixed charge is low, the tariffs some of the best in Europe.  They provide a free phone directory and yellow pages annually for each town, available from the CYTA shop or (for a short period) from some supermarekts.  

CYTA also provide Internet access, at reasonable cost, either dial-up or broadband, and we've found this mostly reliable.  An alternative provider for Internet access is OTEnet.  

Mobile phones are widely used, with contracts either from CYTA or (most recently) Areeba, starting as low as £1 per month.  An alternative is the pay-as-you-go system, with top-up cards that can be bought in several shops, from £5 upwards.   Most of these have a limited roaming system that can be used internationally (other than in the USA).  

Paying utility bills

It's possible to set up direct debit payments from your bank to cover utility bills, although we have not found this to be entirely reliable, and there is a set-up fee for doing so.   Most people pay by cash or cheque at the local office of the utility providers, and a recent option for people who have online banking is to pay online using their bank's website.