An energy ministry provision promising electricity suppliers supportive terms for surcharge payments to market operators has been included in a wider legislative act facilitating pending and urgent matters linked to various ministries.

Electricity suppliers will be able to pay 30 percent of their regulated charges marked out for the power grid operator IPTO, distribution operator DEDDIE/HEDNO and RES market operator DAPEEP over four monthly installments, according to the energy ministry plan.

A one-month grace period will be offered for the first installment. Suppliers will need to keep servicing the other 70 percent of regulated charges as normal.

The lighter terms are crucial for electricity suppliers, fearing they may not receive a large percentage of regulated surcharges included in electricity bills as a result of rising unpaid receivables.

Over the past few weeks, electricity bill payments have fallen by levels of approximately 30 percent.

Though offering some relief to electricity suppliers, the less demanding terms for their payment of regulated charges will tighten the budgets of market operators and consequently weaken their ability to remunerate conventional and RES electricity producers for output to the grid.

Authorities intend to combat this threat through a security mechanism now being pieced together.