Extremely high public service compensation (YKO) surcharges concerning nighttime electricity consumption, an unpleasant surprise for many consumers last winter, once again threaten to burden the budgets of households preparing to use electric heaters this coming winter.

This surcharge cost rose sharply as of the beginning of 2018, when a fixed nighttime rate was replaced by incremental rates rising with higher consumption levels.

This change prompted sharp electricity cost increases for some 30,000 households relying on lower-cost night-zone electricity tariffs.

The problem was recognized by authorities and RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, proposed nighttime surcharge reductions. A legislative revision was needed but the previous government’s energy ministry did not deliver a bill to Parliament. The current government, elected in July, has yet to make a move on the matter.

The RAE proposal called for a nighttime public service compensation reduction from 0.085 euro per KWh to 0.03 euro for the highest consumption category of 2,001 KWh and over, as well as a drop from 0.05 euro to 0.015 euro for the mid-level consumption category of 1,600 to 2,000 KWh.

Since January 1, 2018, nighttime public service compensation charges have been the same as the daytime rates for all consumption categories.

Prior to this, a flat YKO rate of 0.00889 euro for all nighttime consumption amounts applied until December, 2017.