Little movement from one supplier to another has been observed in the country’s retail natural gas market despite the entry into this market by virtually all of the country’s electricity suppliers from the beginning of the year.

The capital’s Aerio Attikis and the north’s Zenith, both older gas suppliers, have lost a minimal amount of customers in their respective regions and are even managing to secure a small number of new supply contracts in each other’s regions.

Independent electricity suppliers seeking to also penetrate the country’s natural gas market have secured no more than 1,000 new supply contracts in total.

The lack of mobility witnessed in the gas market has been attributed to the lack of leeway available to new suppliers for appealing packages.

Retail natural gas prices are determined by wholesale price levels,  which change constantly and do not enable suppliers to guarantee specific price terms to prospective customers.

Major energy sector players such as the main power utility PPC and petroleum firm Motor Oil are expected to also enter Greece’s retail natural gas market within the next few weeks, while all players are preparing combined electricity-gas packages, a development that could prompt some mobility.