Suppliers spared of €10/MWh cost on electricity producers

Electricity suppliers will no longer be factoring into their tariffs a special surcharge of 10 euros per MWh on natural gas used for generation purposes following a recent revision to this extraordinary measure.

The country’s power retailers are currently working on their tariffs for April, due to be announced on Monday, based on a recent law requiring suppliers to announce price levels for every forthcoming month by the 20th of each preceding month.

Though the aforementioned flat-rate surcharge no longer applies, electricity producers have not been entirely spared of special contributions. An amendment that came into effect this month now requires electricity producers to contribute to the state a monthly surcharge that is equivalent to 5 percent of the TTF natural gas index.

The now-terminated special surcharge of 10 euros per MWh on natural gas used by producers for generation purposes is estimated to have increased retail electricity bills by 18 to 20 euros per MWh.

Though the eventual cost – for consumers – of the new TTF-based surcharge remains unknown, it will definitely be lower than costs resulting from the flat-rate formula. Lower TTF levels will mean lower related costs for electricity producers, which, by extension, will enable suppliers to offer reduced retail prices.

Suppliers are expected to announce reduced tariffs for April on the 20th of this month as wholesale electricity prices and the TTF index have been on  downward trajectories.

Independent suppliers are forecast to offer tariffs of around 0.20 euros per kWh, a reduction of 0.02 to 0.03 euros per kWh compared to levels for March. Power utility PPC may lower its prices below 0.20 euros per kWh, according to unconfirmed reports.

These lower prices will essentially not offer reduced prices for consumers, but the government’s subsidy support policy, keeping retail power prices at levels of between 14 to 16 cents per KWh, will cost the administration less.