A number of electricity market support measures planned by market authorities and firms for the next few months are estimated to be worth 550 million euros, but this may not be enough.

The effectiveness of the measures will depend on the depth and duration of the pandemic-related recession, still in the making.

Should the Greek economy contract by 10 percent this year, as projected by the IMF in a report announced yesterday, and the effects spill over into 2021, as is feared, then the current measures will prove insufficient.

Authorities yesterday announced an initiative offering lighter terms to electricity suppliers for surcharge payments to market operators.

Electricity suppliers will be able to pay 30 percent of their regulated charges marked out for the power grid operator IPTO, distribution operator DEDDIE/HEDNO and RES market operator DAPEEP for the two-month period of April and May over four monthly installments, according to an energy ministry plan. This measure, alone, is estimated to be worth about 200 million euros.

Also, power utility PPC and distribution operator DEDDIE/HEDNO, its subsidiary, appear to have secured European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) loans, for next month, totaling between 180 to 200 million euros.