Industry ‘negatively surprised’ by ETMEAR surcharge relook

The energy ministry’s negative response, at a recent meeting, towards the industrial sector’s concerns over a RES-supporting ETMEAR surcharge included on elecrtricity bills has negatively surprised industrialists, which has created an urgent need to restore confidence between the two sides as a means towards reviving local industrial production, according to a letter forwarded by EVIKEN, the Association of Industrial Energy Consumers, to energy minister Panos Skourletis and other related energy authorities.

EVIKEN has taken action as the energy ministry, it was understood during the recent meeting, is reexamining the ETMEAR surcharge’s distribution details one month before it is expected to submit its proposal to the European Commission, an initiative prompted by EU directives.

If the EU directives are not fully implemented, then the industrial sector would face retroactive charges for 2014 and 2015 totaling more than 12 million euros annually, EVIKEN noted, whereas implementation would offer industry a considerable reduction of about 1.5 to two euros per MWh. Smaller industries stand to benefit even more considerably by as much as nine euros per MWh.

At this stage, industrialists believe that a lack of understanding and communication stands between the sector and the energy ministry.

The industrial sector’s ETMEAR-related concerns follow a recent government decision to exclude industrial enterprises with electricity supply permits from taking part in the upcoming NOME auctions – beginning September, which will provide third parties with access to main power utility PPC’s low-cost lignite and hydropower sources – as well increased distribution fees and imminent natural gas transportation costs.