retail electricity market

Suppliers cut prices for April, PPC rate at 16.5 cents/KWh

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The country’s electricity suppliers have announced a latest round of tariff reductions for April, power utility PPC, the market’s dominant player, leading the way with a greater-than-expected 16 percent price reduction.

PPC set an April rate of 16.5 cents per KWh for monthly consumption of up to 500 KWh, down from 19.5 cents per KWh for March, as well as a rate of 17.7 cents per KWh, down from 20.7 cents per KWh in March, for monthly usage exceeding 500 KWh.

Based on recent law, electricity retailers in Greece are required to announce their tariffs for each forthcoming month by the 20th of every preceding month.

The retail price reductions for April, which had been anticipated as a result of falling wholesale electricity prices of late, will essentially not lower energy costs for users, but the government, which has been providing subsidies throughout the energy crisis to limit residential tariffs to levels of between 15 and 16 cents per KWh, will be able to greatly decrease, or even zero out, its outlay on subsidies and keep tariffs at a level it desires.

Independent supplier Heron announced an April price rate of 15.68 cents per KWh, including a punctuality discount, for its Generous Home package. The supplier’s rate without the discount was set at 19.6 cents per KWh.

Elpedison announced a price of 19.5 cents per KWh for its Electricity HomeDay package as well as a 12.5 cents per KWh for its Elpedison Economy offer.

Protergia set an April rate of 19.98 cents per KWh, regardless of usage level, for its residential Energy Save offer, as well as a price of 13.98 cents per KWh for its residential MVP Reward package, including a punctuality discount, or 19.98 cents per KWh without this discount.

Elsewhere, NRG’s rate for its On Time offer was set at 13.94 cents per KWh, when factoring in a punctuality discount, or 16.4 cents per KWh without the discount.

Volton’s rate for April is 16.4 cents per KWh with a punctuality discount and 17.26 cents per KWh without.

Fysiko Aerio set an April price of 10.4 cents per KWh, including a punctuality discount, for its Maxi Free package, whose rate is 13.9 cents per KWh without the discount.

Volterra set a rate of 18.8 cents per KWh. Watt & Volt announced a price of 19.95 cents per KWh, regardless of consumption level, for its Zero package, as well as a rate of 14 cents per KWh, plus a fixed charge of 3 euros per month, for its Value package.

Zenith set an April rate of 16.4 cents per KWh for its Power Home Basic package. Elin set a rate of 14.8 cents per KWh for its Power On! Home Comfort offer.

PPC market share gain of 3.5% last month shed by Mytilineos

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Power utility PPC’s retail market share, covering all voltage-related categories, rose to 63.54 percent in February, up 3.5 percent on the previous month, a gain more or less shed by Mytilineos, whose overall market share contracted to 7.44 percent in February from 10.67 percent in January, according to latest data included in the energy exchange’s monthly report.

In the high-voltage category, PPC’s market share increased to 86.64 percent in February from 67.04 percent in January, while, on the contrary, its medium-voltage market share fell to 37.72 percent from 39.48 percent.

PPC’s market share in the low-voltage category edged up to 65.57 percent in February from 64.87 percent a month earlier, the energy exchange data showed.

The market shares of other electricity retailers remained virtually unchanged between January and February. Heron captured a 7.24 percent overall market share in February, marginally up from January’s 7.13 percent.

Elpedison’s market share slipped to 6 percent from 6.27 percent; NRG gained marginally to capture a 4.85 percent market share compared to 4.65 percent in January; Fysiko Aerio Attikis captured a 2.97 percent market share in February compared to 2.88 percent in January; Zenith’s market share was 2.14 percent from 2.13 percent a month earlier; Watt+Volt registered a market share of 2.08 percent from 2.09 percent; Volterra edged up its presence to 1.92 percent from 1.82 percent, while Volton’s market share stepped back to 0.98 percent from 1.03 percent.

 

PPC maintains its low-voltage customer base in 2022

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Power utility PPC managed, more or less, to maintain its low-voltage customer base in 2022, whereas private-sector electricity suppliers made limited gains, fourth-quarter data on Greece’s retail electricity market published by distribution network operator DEDDIE/HEDNO has shown.

PPC ended 2022 with approximately 4.96 million customers in the low-voltage category, just 53,000 less than its number of customers at the end of 2021, the operator’s data showed.

Private-sector electricity suppliers ended 2022 with just under 1.69 million customers in the low-voltage category, increasing their overall portfolio by only 31,000 compared to the end of 2021, according to the DEDDIE/HEDNO data.

In 2021, PPC lost a far greater number of low-voltage customers, an exodus numbering 255,000, while private-sector suppliers had gained approximately 305,000 customers, nearly ten times more than their marginal gain in 2022.

PPC announces virtually unchanged tariffs for March

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Main power utility PPC, the dominant retail player and trend setter, has announced a virtually unchanged nominal tariff for March, for monthly consumption of up to 500 KWh, at 19.5 cents per KWh, marginally below the company’s tariff of 19.9 cents offered for February.

PPC’s nominal tariff – the price offered ahead of state subsidy-related reductions – for consumers using over 500 KWh in a month was set at 20.7 cents per KWh.

Based on a new market rule intended to keep electricity prices competitive, suppliers are required to announce their tariffs for each forthcoming month on the 20th of every preceding month.

Protergia announced a tariff level of 18.8 cents per KWh for March, if taking into account a payment punctuality discount included in its MVP Reward package, which, if not taken advantage of by customers, results in a tariff level of 24.8 cents per KWh.

Elpedison set a nominal tariff of 14.5 cents per KWh for its Elpedison Economy package as well as a tariff of 20.27 cents per KWh, following a punctuality discount, for its Elpedison Synepia program.

Heron announced a tariff level of 20.4 cents per KWh, including a 20 percent payment punctuality discount, as part of its Generous Home package.

NRG’s rate for March was set at 16.9 cents per KWh, including a punctuality discount; Volton set a price of 18.9 cents per KWh, taking into account a punctuality discount; Fysiko Aerio Attikis announced a punctuality-discounted rate of 18.5 cents per KWh; Volterra’s rate is 21.4 cents per KWh; Watt+Volt announced a price of 24.5 cents per KWh; and Zenith’s rate for March is 14 cents per KWh.

The government’s anticipated state subsidy offer, maintained amid the energy crisis to subdue electricity prices, is expected to bring down finalized March tariffs to levels of between 14 and 16 cents per KWh. This year is an election year in Greece.

Electricity retailers expected to keep March prices unchanged

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The country’s retail electricity suppliers are expected to keep their nominal tariffs for March unchanged, or edge them up marginally, on Monday, when their price announcements for next month are due, based on a recent market rule requiring power retailers to announce every forthcoming month’s price levels by the 20th of each preceding month.

According to sources, the country’s electricity suppliers are expected to set March prices at a level of around 0.20 euros per KWh, roughly the level they were at in February.

Even though wholesale electricity prices have fallen this month, some electricity retailers may choose to wait until next month to correct their prices as their February offers undercut levels permitted by prevailing market conditions, sources noted.

As things stand, the retail electricity market appears to be entering a period of price stability. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, price levels in March and April are likely to remain stable, which does not mean the energy crisis has been tamed.

State subsidies for retail electricity are expected to remain low in March, at a level of roughly 0.04 euros per KWh, meaning consumers will be responsible for covering tariffs at levels of 0.16 to 0.17 euros per KWh, the government’s goal.

At such levels, budget support will not be needed to aid the government’s electricity subsidy effort.

 

Universal supply service takes on 50,000 extra meters in 2022

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An estimated 50,000 low-voltage consumers around the country resorted, in 2022, to the universal electricity supply service, covering the needs of black-listed consumers who have been shunned by suppliers over payment failures, latest electricity market figures have shown.

The number of households and businesses now being supplied low-voltage electricity via the universal electricity supply service – provided collectively, by law, by the electricity market’s top five suppliers, based on market share – rose to a level of approximately 198,000 at the end of 2022, up from roughly 148,000 a year earlier, a sharp rise highlighting the troubles consumers are having covering electricity bills amidst the energy crisis.

Given these figures, the universal electricity supply service, charging consumers higher tariffs, is ranked sixth in terms of power meters represented, essentially meaning that only power utility PPC, the dominant retail market player, and four other electricity suppliers hold greater market shares.

PPC ended 2022 with 80,000 fewer low-voltage customers, after losing some 255,000 customers in this category in 2021.

ELTA reaches final decision to exit retail electricity market

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ELTA (Hellenic Post) plans to withdraw from the retail electricity market in May, three years after reaching an initial decision to do so as a result of loss-incurring activity in this market.

The company intends to soon inform customers that they will need to find new electricity suppliers by May 8.

The company, operating through its ELTA Energy subsidiary in the retail energy market, has officially informed local authorities of its decision. The Hellenic Energy Exchange, energy ministry, RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, and all related market operators have received notification of ELTA’s final decision.

ELTA, which entered the retail electricity market in 2017, seeking to take advantage of its extensive retail network around the country, has all but abandoned its interests in the country’s retail electricity market in more recent times.

The company has not participated in monthly price announcements expected from electricity retailers as a recently introduced competitive-minded requirement ten days before each forthcoming month, instead offering a flat rate. Also, electricity bills to customers have been greatly delayed and flawed by billing inaccuracies. These factors have driven customers away.

An attempt by ELTA to sell its portfolio of remaining customers to rival suppliers failed to draw the interest of rival suppliers.

 

 

PPC retail electricity market share at 63.3% in December

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Power utility PPC’s captured a retail electricity market share of 63.29 percent in December, followed by the Mytilineos group’s Protergia, at 7.6 percent, Heron, at 7.03 percent, and Elpedison, at 6.09 percent, a latest report published by the Hellenic Energy Exchange has shown.

Day-ahead market prices in December rose 22 percent, averaging 276 euros per MWh compared to 227 euros per MWh in November, while electricity demand increased to 4,488 GWh from 4,109 GWh, the Energy Exchange data showed.

As for December’s energy mix, natural gas-fueled electricity captured the greatest share, 37 percent, followed by renewables, at 24 percent, electricity imports, at 19 percent, lignite-fired generation, at 15 percent, and hydropower, at 3 percent.

Indexation clause termination leads to higher nominal prices

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Though consumers have benefited from tolerable electricity tariffs over the last six months, courtesy of subsidies, the termination of indexation clauses in electricity bills has led to inflated nominal charges as tariffs incorporate the risk suppliers need to take when predicting the next month’s wholesale price levels ten days in advance.

New market rules introduced last August require suppliers to set and announce their electricity tariffs for each forthcoming month by the 20th of the preceding month.

The risk faced by suppliers through this new retail electricity market model has driven their nominal tariffs 20 percent higher, on average, compared to the previous system of floating tariffs with indexation clauses, triggered whenever wholesale prices exceeded certain limits.

Had the indexation clauses been maintained, power utility PPC, the dominant market player, would have recorded an average nominal retail price of 40.86 cents per KWh for the past six months, 28 percent below its average of 52.25 cents per KWh under the new system requiring the company to forecast wholesale price levels for each forthcoming month.

Market officials, including ESPEN, the Greek Energy Suppliers Association, had warned the new market model requiring wholesale electricity price forecasting would push up nominal retail prices, especially during times of market volatility, as is the case at present.

 

Mid-voltage market competition strong in ’22, PPC market share contracts

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Competition between electricity suppliers in the mid-voltage category was, contrary to the low-voltage category, intense in 2022, as highlighted by the significant market share contraction of power utility PPC, down to 36.01 percent in November after starting the year at 42.36 percent, in the mid-voltage category.

The overwhelming majority of companies in Greece belong to the mid-voltage category. Besides reduced electricity usage in the second half of the year, the significant drop in electricity demand in the mid-voltage category may also be attributed to company closures during the energy crisis.

A gainer, Mytilineos’ mid-voltage market share increased to 16.61 percent in November, up from 13.48 percent in January.

Heron also achieved a mid-voltage market share increase, reaching 14.78 percent in November from 12.39 percent in January.

Elpedison’s market share in this category rose marginally to 6.96 percent from 6.66 percent over the eleven-month period.

NRG’s share fell to 9.06 percent from 9.41 percent. Elsewhere, Watt & Volt’s share slipped to 0.84 percent from 0.89 percent, Fysiko Aerio’s share rose to 4.87 percent from 3.47 percent, Volterra’s share increased to 7.09 percent from 6.22 percent. Zenith’s share contracted to 0.40 percent from 0.62 percent, as did Volton’s share, to 0.5 percent from 0.78 percent.

Market share figures remained relatively stable in the low-voltage category between January and November, as highlighted by the marginal change in the market share of power utility PPC, the main player, from 64.53 percent in January to 64.32 percent in November.

Mytilineos’ market share in the low-voltage category fell marginally to 6.34 percent from 6.47 percent. Heron experienced a rise to 6.39 percent from 6.01 percent. Elpedison’s market share slid to 4.92 percent from 5.10 percent and NRG’s share rose to 4.36 percent from 3.77 percent.

 

 

 

Higher retail electricity prices expected for January

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Retail electricity prices for January, set to be announced tomorrow by suppliers, are expected to rise, pushed higher by increased wholesale prices, sources have informed.

Wholesale electricity prices have averaged approximately 300 euros per MWh on the day-ahead market since the beginning of December, up roughly 45 percent compared to June’s average of 205.86 euros per MWh for the equivalent 19-day period.

Even though electricity prices have plunged 50 percent on the energy exchange over the past six days, to 200 euros per MWh from nearly 400 euros per MWh on December 14, suppliers cannot risk subduing prices to December levels. The jittery mood at the Dutch TTF index has not left Greece’s energy exchange unaffected.

January’s electricity prices to be delivered tomorrow by the country’s suppliers – based on a recently introduced rule requiring them to announce their respective price levels for each forthcoming month by the 20th of the preceding month – are expected to range between 0.35 euros per KWh and 0.41 euros per KWh. Supplier prices in December ranged between 0.27 euros per KWh and 0.38 euros per KWh.

Finalized prices for consumers will be lowered by state subsidies offered by the government for electricity. The government is expected to engineer, through subsidies, price levels for households and businesses to between 0.15 euros per KWh and 0.17 euros per KWh.

December power prices to fall 20%, windfall tax ‘lacks clarity’

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Most of the country’s electricity suppliers are preparing to announce December retail electricity prices of between 32 and 35 cents per MWh, down 20 percent compared to November, a reflection of lower natural gas prices at the Dutch TTF hub in recent weeks.

Some suppliers are set to go as low as just over 30 cents per MWh, the lowest retail power prices have been since August, when new rules were introduced requiring suppliers to announce prices for each forthcoming month by the 20th of the preceding month.

Given this requirement, helping consumers make price comparisons, suppliers must announce their December prices by midnight Sunday.

The anticipated price reduction will not result in lower prices for consumers. But the state, subduing the cost of retail electricity at 15 to 16 cents per KWh through subsidies, will benefit as it will be able to maintain this desired price level by contributing less.

Like in November, no state budget money will be needed for energy subsidies offered by the government, meaning it will have some leeway to subsidize other sectors, most probably auto fuel, once again on the rise.

On another front, suppliers have expressed complaints about a new windfall profit tax, set to be introduced over successive three-month periods, beginning with August to October. Suppliers protest the initiative’s formula lacks clarity and has increased the complexity of cost calculations.

Suppliers to set lower December prices, leeway for auto fuel subsidies

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Electricity suppliers are set to announce their lowest retail prices since the introduction of new pricing rules last August when they announce this coming December’s prices on November 20, barring unexpected market developments over the coming days.

The new rules require electricity suppliers to announce each forthcoming month’s prices by the 20th of the preceding month.

Retail electricity prices in November fell to less than 40 cents per KWh for the category concerning low-voltage consumption of up to 500 KWh per month, a bracket carrying the bulk of consumers. December’s prices are expected to fall even lower, to less than 35 cents per KWh.

This price reduction will not result in any benefits for consumers. But the state, keeping the cost of retail electricity at 15 to 16 cents per KWh, will benefit as it will be able to maintain this desired price level through smaller contributions.

Like in November, no state budget money will be needed for energy subsidies offered by the government, meaning it will have some leeway to subsidize other sectors, most probably auto fuel, once again on the rise.

Electricity subsidies will be entirely covered by windfall earnings of electricity producers injected into the Energy Transition Fund.

Electricity subsidies for December are expected to be trimmed to around 19 to 20 cents per KWh, which, under current conditions, would keep retail electricity prices at 15 to 16 cents per KWh.

 

 

Minor retail electricity market share changes in target model era

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The domestic introduction, just under two years ago, of the target model, aiming to integrate the wholesale electricity markets of all EU member states, has brought about little change in the market shares of suppliers.

Power utility PPC’s retail market share has contracted by just over 4 percent, from 66.33 percent in November, 2020, to 62.01 percent in September, 2022, a loss unequally divided between independent suppliers.

In September, 2022, PPC’s retail market share fell to 62.01 percent from 64.41 percent a month earlier, while, during the same period, the collective market share of independent suppliers increased from 35.59 percent to 37.99 percent.

During this one-month period, HERON rose to second place among the independent electricity suppliers with a market share of 6.8 percent, behind Protergia, a member of the Mytilineos group, whose market share rose to 8.65 percent in September from 7.2 percent in August.

Elpedison dropped to third place among the independent suppliers with a 6.54 percent share in September, a marginal rise from 6.49 percent in August.

NRG, which is ranked fourth among the independent suppliers, also experienced a marginal increase in its market share to 4.76 percent from 4.7 percent, as did fifth-placed Aerio Attikis, reaching 2.34 percent from 2.13 percent.

Debate, amid the energy crisis, is still going strong about the rules for consumer switches from one electricity supplier to another. An increased number of consumers are leaving behind unpaid electricity bills when switching suppliers, fresh market data has shown, prompting a supplier association to call for restrictions.

November power prices at 15-16 cents/MWh after subsidies

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Retail electricity prices for November are expected to fall to levels of about 15 to 16 cents per MWh following subsidies, set to be announced tomorrow by energy minister Kostas Skrekas.

The state budget will benefit greatly as a result of the sharp drop in natural gas prices, but, for consumers, final retail electricity prices will more or less remain unchanged compared to October levels.

Given current price levels in markets, budget money will probably not be needed for the government’s energy-crisis support effort to consumers as this support will most likely be fully covered by the Energy Transition Fund through electricity producer windfall earning injections into the fund.

Subsidies for the bulk of consumers, using up to 500 KWh per month, are expected to be set slightly below 24 cents per MWh.

Power utility PPC, the dominant market player, last week announced a November price of 39.7 cents per KWh for a month’s first 500 KWh of consumption, which, following the subsidy deduction, drops to between 15.7 and 15.9 cents.

Based on new law, suppliers are required to announce their electricity prices for the forthcoming month by the 20th of each preceding month.

Consumers using electricity of over 500 and 1,000 KWh per month will receive inversely related lower subsidies.

It remains unclear whether natural gas will be subsidized in November. With the TTF benchmark down to 100 euros per MWh, gas company DEPA does not need to subsidize households at a rate of 90 euros per MWh, as it had done in October.

November retail electricity prices down by more than 30%

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The country’s electricity suppliers have announced reduced tariffs for November of more than 30 percent compared to the current month’s levels, a drop attributed to projections for a further de-escalation of wholesale electricity prices in November as a result of a plunge in international gas prices.

Power utility PPC, Greece’s dominant electricity retailer, has reduced its tariff for households to 39.7 cents per kWh for its low-consumption category of up to 500 kWh, a 33 percent reduction compared to November’s price of 59.5 cents per kWh. PPC’s tariff for consumption exceeding 500 kWh was set at 40.9 cents per kWh for November.

Based on new law, suppliers are required to announce their electricity prices for the forthcoming month by the 20th of each preceding month.

Independent supplier Elpedison announced a November price of 38 cents per kWh for its Electricity Home Day package, down roughly 36 percent compared to October’s price of 59.05 cents per kWh. This offer does not include fixed charges.

Protergia’s price for November was set at 39.5 cents from 57.63 cents in October. Heron’s November price for its GENEROUS Home package, which includes a 20 percent punctuality discount, is 37.6 cents per kWh from 55.8 cents in October, a 32 percent reduction.

Elsewhere, Zenith dropped to 38.5 cents per kWh from October’s 58.9 cents, a reduction of approximately 35 percent; Watt & Volt fell to 40.6 cents from 58.9 cents; Elin went to 39.5 cents per kWh from 59.9 cents; Fysiko Aerio dropped its price to 35 cents per kWh from 59.4 cents in October, and Volton set a November price of 39.6 cents per kWh.

Recovery mechanism for supplier windfall earnings

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The energy ministry is moving ahead with a windfall earnings recovery mechanism for electricity suppliers in an effort to counter retailer pricing inaccuracies resulting from fluctuating wholesale electricity prices.

Electricity retailers are required to set their prices each month, by the 20th of the preceding month.

Contrary to August, a month for which suppliers set retail electricity prices that underestimated wholesale electricity price levels, supplier prices set for September overestimated wholesale electricity price levels. As a result, suppliers earned excessive amounts last month. .

The new recovery mechanism will be designed to retrieve excess earnings resulting from such retail pricing inaccuracies. According to the plan, it will be applied once a year, every November, to calculate a net annual result for all electricity suppliers.

Energy minister Kostas Skrekas yesterday informed that the new mechanism will be come into effect next month.

Power suppliers under enormous strain because of increased liquidity needs and high costs

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Power suppliers in Greece have reached a critical point considering their inability to finance their increasing liquidity needs and remain in operation.
The suppliers’ capital needs are increasing rapidly along with power prices, since these companies are obligated to pay cash for the electricy they buy daily in the energy exchange.
Given the fact that in August power prices are expected to rise significantly, since the price of gas is passed on one month later in the Greek market, the suppliers’ liquidity needs will also rise considerably.
Furthermore, suppliers are also faced with the following:
Financing for over a month consumer subsidies announced by the government.
The rise of unpaid bills and arrears on behalf of consumers.
Damages from consumers who make use of easy change of supplier.
The obligation to pay their charges to grid operators regardless of having collected it by their consumers.
Suppliers have exhausted their ability to procure new financing from banks, as well as their shareholders’ ability to support them.

Competition committee checks power pricing suspicions

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RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has identified electricity pricing irregularities for all consumer categories that need to be inspected, the authority’s head official Athanasios Dagoumas has told a news conference.

The country’s vertically integrated energy groups are RAE’s main concern, while the authority has already forwarded related data to the competition committee, which has the authority to investigate whether dominant players are applying abusive pricing practices.

RAE is closely cooperating with the competition committee, while the two entities have formed a working group for the matter, according to Dagoumas.

Wholesale price clause suspension not instant relief

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The suspension of a wholesale electricity price clause included in power bills will not bring about instant price relief for consumers as suppliers are continuing to take on new costs that threaten to eliminate any prospective price reductions ahead of increased state subsidy support.

New regulations will require electricity suppliers to inform households and businesses on prices they will charge two months in advance. On July 10, when this pricing rule will be activated, suppliers will need to announce their price per KWh to be charged two months later, on September 10. On August 10, suppliers will need to do the same for their price on October 10, and so on.

Power utility PPC, the retail market’s dominant player, will play an influential role in market price levels. If the utility subdues prices levels, rival players will follow suit in an effort to their maintain market shares or possibly increase them.

Electricity consumers charged fixed tariffs – they represent a small percentage of the market – will, from now on, need to pay a penalty fee should they leave their supplier prior to the expiration of agreement.

Uncertainty will remain prevalent despite the new rules. At this stage, there is no model offering electricity price forecasts two month down the road, which is a problem given the market volatility. A single announcement by Russian president Vladimir Putin, or a European Commission package of sanctions against Russia, is enough to send natural gas prices flying and, as a result, lead to sharp wholesale electricity price increases.

 

Ministry sees swift approval for wholesale market intervention

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The energy ministry has forwarded a draft bill to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy for wholesale electricity market intervention and believes the plan’s new mechanism will be swiftly approved for implementation as of July 1, energypress sources have informed.

The ministry’s proposed plan entails deducting windfall profits earned by electricity producers under the current conditions and compensating them based on respective caps to be set for energy production technologies.

Details of the mechanism have already been submitted to the Brussels energy authority, which has unofficially approved the plan, the sources added.

The plan’s introduction at the beginning of July would enable August electricity prices for consumers to be shaped in accordance with July’s price levels.

Once an agreement with the Directorate-General for Energy has been reached, the Greek government will need to ratify the plan and issue a related ministerial decision enabling a temporary revision of wholesale electricity market regulations.

 

Subsidies remain key tool to counter steep energy prices

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Electricity bill subsidies will remain the basic tool in the government’s policy seeking to offer households and businesses protection against the energy crisis’ exorbitant electricity prices, it has been decided at a Brussels meeting.

DG Energy and DG Comp authorities, in talks with Greek government officials, did not permit wholesale market measures for electricity purchases by suppliers at levels below the System Marginal Price, a lower cost that would then have been passed on to consumers.

Brussels officials had expressed hesitation from earlier on for a two-pronged solution entailing wholesale and retail market intervention as the European Commission wanted to avoid, at all costs, any impact on the target model, Europe’s unified electricity market.

As a result, energy minister Kostas Skrekas and the ministry’s secretary-general Alexandra Sdoukou arrived in Brussels yesterday with a simpler alternative plan that was shaped to be more compatible with the European Commission’s sensitivities.

 

RAE proposes €67m return from power producers to suppliers

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RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has proposed a legislative revision that would facilitate a return of 67 million euros, by electricity producers – expect RES producers – to suppliers, an amount representing unpaid balancing-market earnings between November, 2020 and February, 2021, during the launch of the target model.

The amounts that would be returned to suppliers concern two categories, companies that had passed on excessive costs to customers, as well as companies that had not passed on excessive costs to their customers.

According to information obtained by energypress, two retailers, power utility PPC and Volterra, had not passed on excessive costs to their customers. In this case, money to be returned will go straight into the company coffers of these two firms.

Returns for companies that had passed on excessive costs to customers will be injected into the Energy Transition Fund as support for subsidies offered to consumers.

 

 

Swift Brussels approval sought for energy market measures

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The energy ministry’s leadership will seek swift approval of a national plan for two-pronged intervention in the wholesale and retail electricity markets, intended to subdue energy prices, at a meeting with European Commission officials in Brussels today.

Energy minister Kostas Skrekas and the ministry’s secretary-general Alexandra Sdoukou will discuss the country’s plan with DG Energy technocrats. The government has announced the measures will be implemented July 1.

The measures include a suspension of wholesale electricity price adjustment clauses included in retail electricity bills as well as a wholesale price-cap mechanism.

These measures, however, will not necessarily keep tariffs steady. On the contrary, suppliers will, after informing customers, be able to adjust kilowatt hour prices based on their wholesale electricity purchase costs.

According to sources, Greece’s plan stands a strong chance of being approved by the European Commission as it essentially does not affect the target model and also includes a taxation measure for windfall profits earned by electricity producers, a measure repeatedly proposed by the European Commission.

Gov’t confident Brussels will approve wholesale market plan

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Government officials are confident the administration’s two-pronged intervention plan for the wholesale and retail electricity markets will soon be approved by the European Commission, enabling implementation as of July 1, despite some reservations expressed over the past few days, government sources involved in the process have told energypress.

Athens’ plan was forwarded to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and Directorate-General for Competition last Friday, following consultation on technical details between Greek government officials and Brussels.

Details of the Greek proposal are expected to be discussed over the next few days through a teleconference meeting involving technocrats , sourced noted.

Energy minister Kostas Skrekas could also hold talks this week with the head officials of the Directorate-General for Energy and Directorate-General for Competition, to elevate the effort to a political level. A written response to the Greek plan from these Brussels bodies is believed to be imminent.

The Greek government is confident its energy-crisis plan will be approved by Brussels for two reasons. Firstly, Athens’ decision to eliminate, through a related tax, windfall profits earned by electricity producers during the energy crisis is one of the tools proposed by Brussels. Secondly, the Greek plan is not expected to affect transboundary trade as import-export prices will continue to be shaped by wholesale market forces.

 

Ministry to suspend wholesale adjustment clauses in bills

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The government appears determined to push through with an energy ministry decision suspending wholesale electricity price adjustment clauses included in retail electricity bills as of July 1 and for as long as measures – in both markets – are deemed necessary.

Even so, details of the plan remain unclear. The government aims to implement a new electricity price-adjusting mechanism on July 1. Its fundamentals involve setting a remuneration cap for electricity producers and reducing wholesale electricity price levels for suppliers.

There has been confusion as to whether the government will suspend or cancel existing wholesale electricity price adjustment clauses.

In comments to energypress, leading energy ministry officials supported that energy minister Kostas Skrekas plans to deliver a draft bill suspending wholesale electricity price adjustment clauses, while also introducing a wholesale price-cap mechanism.

These measures, however, will not necessarily keep tariffs steady. On the contrary, suppliers will, after informing customers, be able to adjust kilowatt hour prices based on their wholesale electricity purchase costs, it is understood.

 

Electricity market emergency plan presented to Brussels

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Energy ministry officials will today present, for the first time, the government’s package of energy-crisis measures to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy.

Brussels’ approval of the package is needed despite the Greek government’s claims that the measures, intended to subdue energy market prices, are within the framework of the European Commission’s RePowerEU plan, also aiming to combat the crisis.

Although details of the Greek package are still in progress, its basics appear to have been finalized.

The day-ahead market, according to the plan, will continue to operate normally, and, as a result, electricity import and export prices will not be impacted. However, the clearing price formula will be revised so that each electricity production technology (lignite, natural gas, hydropower, renewables) is paid for output based on its respective variable cost plus a fair profit, rather than the system marginal price.

According to the plan, electricity suppliers will purchase energy from the domestic market at the lowest prices resulting from the new clearing price formula.

In addition, a wholesale price adjustment clause included in electricity bills will be suspended for the entire duration of emergency measures.

The government wants to avoid characterizing as a tax a plan intended to retroactively collect 90 percent of excess profits earned by electricity producers in recent months. If classified as a retroactive tax, the measure could end up being challenged in court if deemed to be unlawful.

With this danger in mind, the government is presenting its tax plan as a universal fee for solidarity contributions or solidarity dividends.

The government aims to implement its energy-crisis emergency plan by July 1. Swift progress in Athens’ negotiations with Brussels will be needed if this target date is to be achieved.

 

Retail, wholesale measures for crisis’ new support package

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The government’s latest energy-crisis support measures, whose fundamentals were announced yesterday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will take immediate effect, beginning with subsidies for consumption in May and June. Details are expected to be announced by government officials early today.

These subsidies, according to sources, will be combined with a price cap in the wholesale electricity market as of July, as negotiations with the European Commission are ongoing and Brussels approval is needed, as was the case with Spain and Portugal.

The new subsidies are expected to absorb approximately 50 percent of electricity cost increases for households, while, combined with July’s anticipated price cap in the wholesale market, the support package will absorb between 70 and 80 percent of energy cost increases for households, businesses and farmers, according to government calculations.

The support package for households will, as has been the case over the past few months, continue subsidizing up to 300 kilowatt hours per month, but subsidy levels will fall from 72 euros a month in April to a monthly level of between 55 and 60 euros, which, in terms of energy-cost increase absorption, works out to the same percentage as the average electricity price ended lower in April compared to the previous month.

Based on this reasoning, May and June subsidies for businesses will also be slightly lower than the level of 130 euros per MWh offered in April.

The new support package will also subsidize monthly consumption exceeding 300 KWh at a rate of 10 cents per KWh for all households, not just principle residencies, as was the case with previous packages.

The wholesale electricity market price cap to be implemented is expected to keep the average price at a level of approximately 100 euros per MWh.

 

Customers shifting suppliers at higher rate, PPC share steady

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The number of consumers and small businesses switching electricity suppliers in search of more affordable energy deals reached 3.1 percent in March, nearly double the 1.62 percent who did so during the equivalent month a year earlier.

Power utility PPC captured 30.6 percent of these shifting consumers, a record figure for the company.

Consumers are returning to PPC at a growing rate, an influx offsetting the number of the company’s exiting customers. PPC’s net loss of customers was virtually wiped out in March, limited to 1,400 low-voltage connections from approximately five million in total represented by the company.

PPC lost between 20,000 and 25,000 customers per month from September to December last year, while, earlier in 2021, the company was losing between 40,000 and 45,000 low-voltage customers each month.

Customer shifts during the first quarter of 2022 have not altered the rankings of independent suppliers, based on market share.

The top five remained unchanged with the country’s three vertically integrated suppliers, Protergia, Elpedison and Heron, occupying the first three places, respectively, followed by Zenith and Watt+Volt.

Among the independent players, Zenith registered the biggest number of new customer additions, closely followed by NRG.

PPC’s pricing policy during the energy crisis has created a sense of greater safety, attracting customers. The impact of the company’s new charges on fixed tariffs remains to be seen.

Sector officials believe the retail electricity market is essentially no longer open to  competition, warning of a return to a market lacking competition.

PPC low-voltage customer loss continues slowdown in 4Q ’21

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Power utility PPC’s number of departing household and business consumers slowed down in the fourth quarter of 2021 to a total of 37,000, from 47,000 in the previous quarter, market data released by DEDDIE/HEDNO, the distribution network operator, has shown.

PPC’s decreased number of departing customers in the low-voltage category, a trend that was sustained throughout 2021, especially since the beginning of the energy crisis, highlights the power utility’s pricing policy, which includes discounts.

During the second quarter of 2021, PPC lost 70,000 low-voltage customers, while the company’s customer loss in the first quarter of last year was approximately 100,000.

As a result, independent electricity suppliers attracted a diminishing number of new customers from quarter to quarter last year.

The country’s independent electricity suppliers attracted a total of 67,500 low-voltage customers in the third quarter of 2021, down from 85,000 in the second quarter and 103,000 in the first quarter.

PPC’s low-voltage customers totaled 5.02 million at the end of 2021, down from 5.06 million at the end of the third quarter. Independent suppliers represented 1.66 million suppliers at the end of 2021, up from 1.61 million at the end of the third quarter.