A rift between the country’s industrial and renewable energy sources (RES) sector appears inevitable over the funding details of a “power disruption management” plan, whose implementation will enable energy cost savings for major-scale industry in exchange for shifting energy usage to off-peak hours whenever required by IPTO, the power grid operator.

A second round of talks held yesterday by a committee assembled to address the country’s energy costs failed to produce any results as to how the “power disruption management” can be funded. The committee will meet for a third and final time next week in search of a solution to the issue.

As the funding plan currently stands, the bulk of the “disruption” measure’s cost, estimated at between 60 million and 65 million euros by IPTO, the power grid operator, will be covered by the RES sector, as had been highlighted by the European Commission last year in an official statement to the country’s previous administration.

According to sources, representatives of EVIKEN, the Association of Industrial Energy Consumers, insisted, at yesterday’s committee meeting, with their initial position, calling for the “power disruption management” to be implemented this year, precisely in the form already endorsed by the European Commission. This, they added, can be followed up by a revision, next year, through which the plan will be funded by revenues raised at auctions of unsold emission rights. These revenues will cease being injected into the RES special account.

The Production Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Ministry avoided offering any comments on the brewing dispute. It is expected to adopt a position next week, when the committee stages its third and final meeting on the issue. Production Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Ministry Panagiotis Lafazanis will then be forwarded the committee’s findings and be called upon to finalize the plan.

RES representatives have not commented on the matter either, but energypress sources said they have already forwarded their views on the “disruption” plan to the ministry. Last year, the RES sector had made clear it believes consumers ought to cover the cost of the “power disruption management” plan, as they stand to ultimately benefit from its implementation.