RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has set new household tariffs to be charged by the country’s three EPA distribution companies covering the wider Athens area, Thessaloniki and Thessaly, while these new tariffs may have already been received by the respective administrations, energypress sources have informed.

These new tariffs, determined by RAE after the authority factored in data provided by the three EPA companies, will apply for households until the end of 2017, when pricing regulations will be lifted.

The sources noted that the new tariffs set by RAE could lead to price reductions for households beyond the price cuts expected as a result of a drop in the special consumption tax at the beginning of this year.

The new tariffs will determine the future actions to be taken by the EPA company shareholders over the premature ends to their regional monopolies. Legal action may be taken against the Greek State if the tariff levels are deemed unsatisfactory.

Shell holds a 49 percent stake in the EPA supply company serving the wider Athens region, and ENI, holding 49 percent stakes in the Thessaly and Thessaloniki EPA supply companies. DEPA, the Public Power Corporation, holds 51 percent stakes in all three EPA companies.

In 2001, Shell and ENI secured distribution and trading rights for 30 years in their respective markets. These arrangements were nullified as a result of bailout-required natural gas market reforms.

RAE has already set distribution tariffs. The trading tariffs just determined will enable Shell and ENI to estimate the cost of the premature ends to their regional monopolies.

The recently replaced energy minister Panos Skourletis had ruled out the possibility of any compensation payments for Shell and ENI. However, but this position has yet to be reiterated by his successor Giorgos Stathakis.