RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, is expected to keep unchanged a RES-supporting ETMEAR surcharge paid by consumers through electricity bills, according to sources.

RAE reviews and revises, if needed, the ETMEAR surcharge twice a year, each June and December, depending on RES special account data provided by LAGIE, the Electricity Market Operator. Keeping the account away from deficit territory is the main criterion behind decisions.

The energy authority, given the latest data, is not expected to make any surcharge changes. RAE decided on an ETMEAR surcharge reduction of about 7 percent last December, prompting a strong reaction from the country’s lenders. The institutions have since pushed for an increase.

An unchanged ETMEAR surcharge, the RES special account’s main source of support, definitely decreases the likelihood of a supplier surcharge reduction greater than the 35 percent cut also agreed to for 2018 by the Greek government and the country’s lenders. Supplier surcharge proceeds are also injected into the RES special account.