A decreasing reliance on lignite-fired power stations, nowadays an extremely costly generation option as a result of high-priced CO2 emission rights; lower wholesale electricity prices; and a drop in diesel and natural gas prices reduced power utility PPC’s energy expenses by 885.6 million euros in the nine-month period, to 1.4 billion euros from approximately 2.1 billion euros in the equivalent period a year earlier, the power utility has reported.

This cost reduction, spearheaded by chief executive Giorgos Stassis and his administration, played an important role in favorable results announced yesterday.

PPC’s liquid fuel expenses fell by 33 percent to 357.5 million euros during this year’s nine-month period as a result of the corporation’s lower liquid fuel-based generation as well as lower mazut and diesel prices.

The nine-month natural gas outlay for PPC also fell significantly, by 41.8 percent, to 206 million euros from 353.7 million euros, as a result of a 42.4 percent drop in natural gas prices.

PPC’s CO2 emission right expenses fell to 263.1 million euros in the nine-month period, from 406.9 million euros in the equivalent period of 2019, as a result of the company’s reduced emission levels, down to 10.9 million tons from 17.9 million tons.

The power utility’s lignite-based generation during the nine-month period dropped by 50.6 percent year-on-year.

PPC appears to have given space to rival electricity producers in the nine-month period, while increasing its operating profit, despite a retail market share contraction to 69.3 percent from 76 percent a year earlier.