Industrial sector officials have raised concerns about delays in the implementation of support measures, including a plan for energy-cost reductions, already announced by the government, ratified in parliament and approved by the European Commission.

The energy ministry has yet to deliver a ministerial decision needed to implement a plan reducing a RES-supporting ETMEAR surcharge included in electricity costs. No explanations have been given for this delay.

The European Commission has already endorsed a plan for significant ETMEAR reductions for major-scale industrial consumers as of January 1, 2019.

The plan’s delayed implementation is believed to be costing certain industrial producers annual amounts in excess of one million euros.

This surcharge-reducing measure is designed to increase RES special account earnings as the ETMEAR cut for energy-intensive industrial enterprises will be more than offset by an increase in ETMEAR costs for the mid-voltage consumer category.

The resulting increase of RES special account earnings has been estimated at 80 million euros, retroactively, for 2019, and a further 80 million euros for 2020.