Domestic PV systems exempted from ‘disruption plan’ support

The contributions of renewable energy source (RES) power stations to the “disruption management” plan will remain unchanged, as they had been prepared by an older plan proposed by the pre-Syriza coalition, but household PV systems will be exempted, energy minister Panos Skourletis informed energy industry officials spanning the entire sector at a meeting today.

This boils down to meaning that PV system operators, barring household PV facilities, will contribute 3.6 percent of their total turnover to the “disruption management” plan, wind-energy facility operators will contribute 1.8 percent of turnover, and small-scale hydropower stations will contribute 0.8 percent of turnover.

The government’s plan committing support by the RES sector to the “disruption management” plan – to 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 – was condemned by RES sector representatives at today’s meeting, who argued the sector would be burned so that the industrial sector may benefit.

Based on the aforementioned percentage figures, a total of about 48 million euros would  be raised annually for the “disruption management” plan, although it is believed that no more than 30 million euros is required.

Nikos Boulaxis, president of RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, presented participants the authority’s proposal for the Variable Cost Recovery Mechanism, locally acroymed MAMK, to help cover power station start-up costs. No objections were raised.

As for the temporary CAT payment mechanism to cover output in 2016, the RAE chief informed participants on revisions required, based on European Commission observations, so that it may be implemented.

Energy Ministry to update sector officials on key reforms

The Environment and Energy Ministry will host a meeting today to update sector officials on bailout-related developments concerning the power “disruption management” plan, the country’s new CAT mechanism, as well as a Variable Cost Recovery Mechanism, locally acroymed MAMK.

The power “disruption management” plan 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. The Variable Cost Recovery Mechanism, to help cover power station start-up costs, is expected to burden the renewable energy source (RES) sector.

Officials representing RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, IPTO, the power grid operator, LAGIE, the Electricity Marker Operator, PPC, the main power utility, PPC Renewables, SEV, the Hellenic Association of Industrialists, EVIKEN, the Association of Industrial Energy Consumers, ESIAPE, the Greek Association of Renewable Energy Source Electricity Producers, HAIPP, the Hellenic Association of Independent Power Producers, ELETAEN, the Greek Wind Energy Association, HELAPCO, the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies, SPEF, the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Energy Producers, as well as other associations, will attend the meeting.