The summer slowdown in the shift of consumers abandoning main power utility PPC for rival independent suppliers appears to be ending.

Offers being made by independent suppliers, undercutting PPC prices by as much as 30 percent, seem to have ended the disruption witnessed in the outflow of the utility’s consumers in July and August, following the latter’s announcement of a 15 percent discount for punctual customers.

September’s market figures are expected to be favorable for independent suppliers, company officials have informed energypress.

Most suppliers are set to launch new packages and promotional campaigns but, for the time being, are holding back in anticipation of the imminent NOME auctions and their initial impact on the electricity market.

The NOME auctions – intended to provide third parties with access to PPC’s low-cost lignite and hydropower sources as a measure to help break the utility’s market dominance – are expected to enable independent suppliers to offer even more competitive packages to a wider range of customers, especially low-voltage consumers.

The most recent market report issued by LAGIE, the Electricity Market Operator, at the end of August showed that PPC’s retail market share fell below 90 percent for the first time ever, reaching 89.83 percent.

Broken down in voltage-related categories, PPC held a 59.98 percent share of the low-voltage market, 18.91 percent of the medium-voltage market and 10.94 percent of the high-voltage market.

The independent suppliers operating in Greece held a market share total of 10.17 percent in August, according to the LAGIE report.

More specifically, Heron captured a market share of 2.73 percent comprised of 0.78 percent of the low-voltage market, a 1.94 percent share in the medium-voltage market, and just 0.01 percent of the high-voltage market, presumably for the company’s own energy needs.

Protergia ended August with a 2.54 percent share of the retail electricity market, 0.68 percent provided by the low-voltage market and 1.86 percent by the medium-voltage market.

Elpedison held a 2.16 percent share, 0.01 percent of this in the high-voltage market, 1.04 percent of the low-voltage market, and 1.11 percent of the medium-voltage market.

NRG Trading held 0.84 percent as a result of a 0.21 percent share of the low-voltage market and a 0.63 percent share of the medium-voltage market.

Watt + Volt ended August with a 0.58 percent market share, primarily based on its 0.51 percent share of the low-voltage market, as well as 0.07 percent of the medium-voltage market.

Volterra’s share stood at 0.60 percent, all of it in the medium-voltage market category.

Green held 0.44 percent, equally split between the low and medium-voltage sectors, each providing 0.22 percent market shares to the energy supplier.