Greece’s energy minister Panos Skourletis signed ministerial decisions on Friday for the adoption of a “disruption management” plan – to enable energy cost savings for major-scale industry in exchange for shifting energy usage to off-peak hours whenever required by IPTO, the power grid operator – as well as a new CAT mechanism, according to energypress sources.

The “disruption management” plan will be implemented without changes to an older format that had been prepared by the pre-Syriza coalition, despite efforts for revisions by Skourletis and his team during negotiations with the country’s creditor representatives, the sources informed.

This means that all photovoltaic system producers, except for the household sub-category, will contribute 3.6 percent of their total turnover to the “disruption management” plan, wind-energy facility operators will contribute 1.8 percent of turnover, and small-scale hydropower stations 0.8 percent of turnover. This plan had been endorsed by the European Commission during the pre-Syriza coalition’s tenure.

The planned contributions to the “disruption management” plan by renewable energy source (RES) producers have  been the cause of protest by the sector, which has contended it is being burdened to support the industrial sector.

Based on the aforementioned percentage figures, a total of about 48 million euros will be raised annually for the “disruption management” plan, although it is believed that no more than 30 million euros is required.

RES sector producers have suggested they should register to fund the plan but only contribute amounts gradually, based on real needs.

As for the new CAT mechanism, the energy ministry and creditor representatives agreed to implement a temporary mechanism until the end of 2016 as there is insufficient time to make required revisions to the wholesale market for the introduction of a permanent model.

Independent RES producers will not receive any CAT-related payments for production in 2015 as a result of the European Commission’s prohibition of retroactive payments through the temporary CAT plan.