A legal case filed by two local PV producer associations, SPEF and PSAF, to the Council of State, Greece’s Supreme Administrative Court, against a ministerial decision supporting the demand response mechanism (interruptability) has been further postponed, beyond the hearing’s latest date, which had been set for September 19.

SPEF and PSAF have challenged the mechanism citing technical, financial and legal reasons. The plaintiffs contend that the mechanism has being unfairly applied and, as a result, proven detrimental to the interests of PV producers.

The mechanism enables major industrial enterprises to be compensated when the TSO (ADMIE/IPTO) requests that they shift their energy usage by lowering or stopping consumption during high-demand peak hours so as to balance the electricity system’s needs.

Following the latest postponement, the case is expected to be heard in 2018.

Greece’s current demand response mechanism is set to expire at the end of this month. Local industrialists are pressuring for a three-year extension. The Greek government is supporting this demand. Energy minister Giorgos Stathakis submitted an extension request to Brussels on July 25. If successful, the mechanism’s validity will be extended to September, 2020.