EVIKEN protests CO2 cost treatment of major consumers

EVIKEN, the Association of Industrial Energy Consumers, has filed a complaint to RAE, Greece’s Regulatory Authority for Energy, claiming discriminatory treatment of high-voltage electricity consumers by the main power utility PPC over CO2 emission right costs.

High-voltage industrial electricity consumers shoulder the full extent of CO2 emission right cost increases as these costs are included on their electricity bills as separate surcharges. On the contrary, all other consumers enjoy steady tariff levels as CO2-related charges are not included on their bills. EVIKEN has requested an explanation for this conflicting billing approach.

It is estimated that PPC’s decision to absorb higher CO2 emission costs for all other consumer categories is costing the state-controlled power utility additional costs worth between 430 and 440 million euros per year.

EVIKEN also filed a second complaint to RAE requesting an examination of lower mid-voltage tariffs for industrial consumers sharing the same energy profiles as high-voltage consumers. Mid-voltage tariffs are lower by as much as five euros per MWh compared to tariffs paid by high-voltage consumers sharing identical energy profiles.