Electricity suppliers have been unsettled by new RES-supporting ETMEAR surcharge conditions requiring them to apply new rates to medium-voltage customers retroactively, as of January 1, 2019.

There has been much mobility in the medium-voltage market as customers have often switched suppliers. The new retroactive requirement has caused confusion as medium-voltage customers may no longer be with the suppliers they were at in 2019, and, furthermore, being enterprises, they may even no longer exist. The obligations of suppliers remain unclear for such cases.

The ETMEAR surcharge framework has just been implemented after being postponed on a number of occasions.

A small number of enterprises will be required to pay smaller ETMEAR amounts, while most will need to pay higher amounts.

Certain industrial enterprises will be charged a reduced rate, 15 percent of the average ETMEAR figure, set at 17 euros per MWh.

The new ETMEAR surcharge for medium-voltage consumers belonging to other business categories, the overwhelming majority, including hotels, retail chains, banks, and low-intensity industries, is 17 euros per MWh, up from the previous rate of 9 euros per MWh. This increased rate will apply retroactively as of January 1, 2019.