Industrial representatives emerged satisfied from a first round of talks held yesterday with a committee assembled to examine energy-cost issues facing the sector.
However, plenty of work lies ahead. Financial details concerning a “power disruption management” plan – whose implementation will 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 – have yet to be finalized.
Also, the Syriza-led coalition government has yet to make any binding decisions on the “disruption management” plan.
The committee, to focus its efforts on this measure over the coming days and weeks, is expected to deliver a study on the plan to Production Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis by the end of this month.
Representatives from PPC, the Public Power Corporation; IPTO, the power grid operator; EVIKEN, the Association of Industrial Energy Consumers; as well as officials from the governing Syriza party, are taking part in the committee’s proceedings.
A detailed presentation of technical details and legal-framework matters was made during the committee’s first round of talks. The measure’s objectives were also discussed, as was a ministerial decision that was signed by the country’s previous administration, currently shelved and awaiting implementation.
Industrialists have already made their position clear and want the measure to be applied as soon as possible, in its present form. Industrial consumers fear that any revisions to the measure, already endorsed by the European Commission, may lead to complications, delays, even legal action.
As for the measure’s funding, the committee discussed various alternatives, including a proposal linked to emission-right revenues. However, no conclusions were reached during yesterday’s session.
PPC officials expressed no objections to the measure, on the condition that the power utility’s coffers are not affected.
Wider issues concerning problems faced by Greece’s industrial sector were also addressed by participants during yesterday’s meeting.