Energy minister Giorgos Stathakis plans to officially present a draft bill envisioning legal framework for the establishment of energy cooperatives, offering energy consumers the right to become shareholders in ventures, in September, a deliberate timing choice planned to coincide with a wider communication campaign planned by the government to trumpet its work in progress.

Stathakis is expected to present the energy cooperatives draft bill in Crete as part of an official visit also involving Brussels authorities.

The minister sees the bill, which underwent public consultation procedures in June, as a tool possessing potential to generate a new round of major investments in the country’s renewable energy sector.

More generally, the government intends to include it envisioned prospects of this draft bill to its wider socially-oriented production plan, aiming to offer production opportunities to common people for a stronger social economy as a key pillar of its economic growth plan.

As part of the government’s energy cooperatives plan, local energy communities will be able to develop and lease distribution networks, while renewable energy communities will be able to produce, consume, store and sell renewable energy without being subject to disproportionate charges that do not reflect actual costs.

The draft bill’s place in the parliamentary queue for prospective debate and ratification will be determined within the next few days, when Greek Parliament resumes its activities at full pace following the summer recess.

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