The energy ministry appears determined to deal with the wider cost and market repercussions caused by strategic electricity bill evaders and electricity theft as it prepares a plan aimed at keeping electricity price levels under control once universal subsidy support for consumers is lifted at the end of the year and indexation clauses are reintroduced by suppliers.

Energy minister Thodoris Skylakakis, a former deputy at the finance ministry, knows well that electricity bill evasion can be likened to tax evasion, as consumers who manage to avoid paying electricity bills, by taking advantage of lax domestic regulations to switch suppliers and leave behind unsettled bills, are ultimately doing so at the cost of punctual consumers, who end up shouldering consequent costs.

Even if a fraction of unpaid receivables owed to electricity suppliers were to be covered, this would help suppliers subdue their tariff levels, market officials pointed out.

Taking all this in mind, the energy ministry is expected to announce tough measures in October, clamping down on serial electricity bill evaders as well as electricity thieves.

Meanwhile, the ministry will also seek to offer reinforced energy-cost support to low-income households as of 2024, when universal energy-crisis aid, in the form of subsidies, will cease to exist and indexation clauses are reactivated by suppliers. Income levels and geographical location are expected to be factored into calculations for support to eligible households.

The ministry’s action plan countering electricity bill evaders, estimated at 30,000, will involve implementing a debt-flagging system similar to one used in the banking sector.

Electricity theft, the other key front that needs to be addressed, cost consumers a total of 789 million euros in 2022, according to recent data.