Major gas distribution tariff cuts a boost for industry

EDA THESS premises in Thessaloniki were visited by the President of the Federation of Industries of Greece (SBE), Mr. Athanasios Savvakis where he was welcomed by the General Manager, Mr. Leonidas Bakouras and executives of the Company.

During the meeting, the General Manager informed about the approved Development Plan 2021-2025 amounting to ~ 156 million € which is already being implemented supporting the development of the areas of responsibility of EDA THESS. As part of this ambitious Program, the Company aims to integrate more and more industries in the gas distribution network. The expansion of natural gas use to energy-intensive production units leads to an increase in their energy efficiency, to a reduction in the energy cost while at the same time environmental performance is improved.

It is worth noting that in 2020, for the region of Thessaloniki the industries MEL SSA, MEVGAL SA, Souroti SA, Roka SA, Onassis SA, B. Maliouris SA and the new gas station using CNG of EKO SA in Thessaloniki signed a connection contract, while for Thessaly the companies HELLENIC DAIRIES SA, AGRODER IKE, VIOLAR SA, CVBTECH HELLAS MIK, D,KISSA BROS & CO OE.

At the same time, Mr. Bakouras pointed out that the critical decline of distribution tariffs derives from the development planning, consistent and full implementation of an integrated strategy with profitable investments, based on technical and economic criteria. From the 1st of January the weighted average distribution tariff of EDA THESS that has been approved by the Authority shows a further decline of 14.8% in Thessaloniki and 21.9% in Thessaly, compared to the previous regulatory period.

Even more impressive is the reduction for the industrial consumers, who now enjoy reduced distribution tariffs by 45% in Thessaloniki and 56% in Thessaly compared to the distribution tariff applied in the previous regulatory period.

For his part, Mr. Savvakis expressed his satisfaction for the shaping of distribution prices at lower levels. He stressed that such a development is quite positive for the productive base and acts as an accelerator in attracting new investments, turning the region into an investment hub. By this way, the interest of investors for the development of companies in the industrial sector is mobilized, as a healthier, more flexible, and competitive environment with low energy costs is established. In this direction, EDA THESS through targeted investments, further strengthens the perspective of infrastructure development both in Northern Greece and in other areas of its License.

In line with the National Plan for Energy and Climate objectives, EDA THESS achieves the increase of natural gas penetration, contributing to the boost of the productive restructuring.

EDA THESS gains praise for impressive impact on gas market

The recently formed gas distribution company EDA THESS, established to serve the wider Thessaloniki and Thessaly regions, is swiftly emerging as a formidable market player providing the most attractive offers and enjoying rapid growth and robust financial results. Business and political figures, including local authorities, visiting the company’s booth at the ongoing Thessaloniki International Fair all agreed that the company has made an impressive market entry.

Aiming to increase natural gas’s market penetration, EDA THESS was launched as a fully independent natural gas network operator for the wider Thessaloniki and Thessaly regions on December 30, 2016.

The company’s impressive strategic planning promises to ensure sustained growth in the future, pundits believe.

Since the launch of their development 16 years ago, the natural gas networks of Thessaloniki and Thessaly have attracted 54 percent of the total population in these regions, well above levels reached by other European countries. In France and Germany, for example, the gas market’s penetration has not yet reached 50 percent.

EDA THESS aims to increase this gas market penetration level to 58 percent by 2021.

Despite having to deal with adjusting to a new market framework, EDA THESS managed to increase its new connections by 60.3 percent in the first half of 2017, compared to the equivalent period a year earlier. Also in the first half this year, the company registered a 28 percent increase in the amount of natural gas distributed.

The company, according to its development strategy, plans to invest 97 million euros on network and infrastructure development between 2017 and 2021, the objective being to increase the network’s coverage by 20 percent through extensions of existing lines as well as development of new ones. The initiave aims to attract a further 61,000 households to the gas network operated by EDA THESS.