Two photovoltaic associations, SPEF and PSAF, have testified at an Athens Court of First Instance in support of LAGIE, Electricity Market Operator, which has filed a case against IPTO, the power grid operator, in reaction to overdue payments concerning the RES special account.

The head officials of both PV associations pledged to offer additional support to LAGIE for two further cases to be submitted against IPTO as well as HEDNO, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, covering the entire amount owed to LAGIE by the two operators.

LAGIE is seeking payments covering a five-year period plus interest for delays. SPEF and PSAF officials noted that the days of interest-free payment delays for the operators, at the expense of the RES special account, have now ended.

Renewable energy producers have remained unpaid for seven months and, as a result, are unable to meet various obligations, including banking, taxation, business and personal living expenses, the PV associations noted in a statement.

According to official data, the RES current account deficit in May reached 75 million euros, while RES producers linked to the grid are owed 738 million euros, not including VAT, for output from September, 2016 to March this year.