The country’s electricity suppliers are anticipating supplier surcharge returns of amounts paid into the RES special account as a result of a sufficient account surplus figure achieved and expected to widen further by the end of the year.

However, according to a formula proposed by renewable energy market operator DAPEEP, formerly known as LAGIE, electricity suppliers will need to be up to date on all their electricity system payments, without any outstanding debt to operators, in order to be eligible for the planned supplier surcharge returns.

If applied, this no-debt condition would stand as an obstacle for some suppliers, especially the main power utility PPC, owing considerable amounts to the system and operators as a result of its sizable unpaid receivables figure resulting from amounts owed to the utility by consumers.

DAPEEP has forwarded its supplier surcharge returns formula proposal to RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy. It could undergo a public consultation procedure before being officially adopted.

Supplier surcharge returns are not expected any sooner than February or March next year. A 70-million euro safety reserve that needs to be maintained in the RES special account, by law, will be factored into the calculations.