Electricity: Adjustment clause “burns” consumers – Government mullings

More and more households and businesses are having difficulty repaying rising electricity bills due to the energy crisis that began after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

At a time when the price of power bills are rising feverishly, due to the increase in the supply price of the providers, the approaching summer is worrying citizens and businessmen even more.

Pre-crisis price plan

The need to intervene in the energy market is something that has been pointed out from the first moment by government officials, with the Prime Minister noting that even if there is no single European regulation, the Greek government will proceed to the necessary interventions.

In particular, the government staff is considering a national plan to reduce electricity prices, with the aim of bringing retail prices close to pre-crisis levels (ie 2021 prices), to approximately € 0.16 / kWh.

It is worth noting that at this time the corresponding price per kilowatt hour is around 0.33 – 0.35 euros, after deducting subsidies.

On the level of retail prices, the abolition of the adjustment clause in its current form is also being considered.

At the same time, the government is considering the possibility of entering a ceiling in the wholesale price of electricity with a limit of 100 euros per megawatt hour, at a time when it now reaches 240 euros. The extra amount will be subsidized by the Budget.

The four scenarios on the table

Government staff are working on four scenarios, through which the best possible solution for households and businesses will be found.

Particularly:

• The imposition of a maximum horizontal clearing price for payments of the electric generators for the electricity that they produce and sell through the Hellenic Energy Exchange.
• The application of a different ceiling on the revenues of electricity producers depending on the technology they use, ie a separate maximum payment amount for RES, natural gas, lignite and hydroelectric power plants.
• The combination of ceiling with subsidies for electricity bills.
• The significant increase in the state subsidy for electricity bills.

The government is oriented towards making announcements before the EU Summit in late May and, according to information, this was the subject of the meeting on Thursday at the Maximos Palace between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy in view of the Summit of the Ministers of Energy. EU, on Monday, in Brussels.