volterra

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.

Volterra makes dynamic RES return through iXion subsidiary

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Energy company Volterra aims to make a dynamic return to renewable energy production through the establishment of iXion, a fully-owned subsidiary, after selling a section of its RES portfolio last June to PPC Renewables, which, as a result, acquired 112 MW in wind and solar energy projects.

Besides renewable energy production, Volterra’s iXion subsidiary also aspires to expand the company’s presence into new domains such as electromobility, energy-saving projects, as well as solar energy system installations at residential and business properties for net-metering purposes.

Volterra, one of the Greek energy market’s oldest independent players – 13 years old – and a member of the AVAX construction group, one of the country’s biggest, will now purely focus on electricity and gas trading and supply.

“Volterra has always operated on the basis of a robust business model, which provided the company with flexibility to face unprecedented market challenges and difficulties that emerged in early 2021,” Panos Nikou, CEO of Volterra and iXion Energy, told energypress. “The establishment of iXion, a wholly owned subsidiary of Volterra, is based on Volterra’s expertise and strength of the AVAX Group. iXion aims to leverage the vast experience of its executives and the accumulated expertise, virtues and skills of its staff in general,” he added.

iXion aims to start making serious impact in the domains it has chosen to enter in 2023 and 2024, the chief executive noted.

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.

 

Top energy sector officials taking part at Power & Gas Forum, March 22-23

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The government’s top-ranked energy sector officials as well as a host of other leading figures from political, institutional, academic and business domains will be talking part in the Power & Gas Forum on March 22 and 23 at the Wyndham Grand Athens Hotel, an event being staged by energypress for a fourth time. Conference speakers and attendees will participate in person.

Speakers at the event will include Greek energy minister Kostas Skrekas; the energy ministry’s secretary-general Alexandra Sdoukou; secretary-general of transport at the ministry of infrastructure and transport Ioannis Xifaras; RAE (Regulatory Authority for Energy) president Athanasios Dagoumas; EFET’s (European Federation of Energy Traders) Jerome Le Page; Tomás Llobet of European Energy Retailers (EER); two former Greek energy ministers, Giannis Maniatis and Giorgos Stathakis; Sokratis Famellos, a member of the main opposition leftist Syriza party; and Haris Doukas of the PASOK-KINAL socialist party.

Other conference participants will include power grid operator IPTO’s chief executive officer Manos Manousakis and his deputy Giannis Margaris; gas grid operator DESFA’s chief executive Maria Rita Galli; RES market operator DAPEEP’s president and CEO Giannis Giarentis; distribution network operator DEDDIE/HEDNO’s chief executive Anastasios Manos; EDEYEP (Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company) president Aristofanis Stefatos; the Hellenic Energy Exchange’s newly appointed CEO Alexandros Papageorgiou; EDA THESS general manager and EDA ATTIKI CEO Leonidas Bakouras; the Greek prime minister’s special adviser for energy Nikos Tsafos; energy ministry adviser Theodoros Tsakiris; and energy markets guru Alex Papalexopoulos.

The academic community will be represented by professors Pantelis Kapros, Stavros Papathanasiou, Pantelis Biskas, Nikolaos Hatziargyriou and Antonis Metaxas.

As always, energy-sector authorities will also participate at the event. They include Loukas Dimitriou (ESAI/HAIPP – Hellenic Association of Independent Power Producers); Antonis Kontoleon (EVIKEN – Association of Industrial Energy Consumers); Giannis Mitropoulos and Miltos Aslanoglou (ESPEN – Greek Energy Suppliers Association); Irodotos Antonopoulos (ESEPIE – Hellenic Association of Electricity Trading & Supply Companies); Panagiotis Lostarakos and Panagiotis Papastamatiou (ELETAEN – Greek Wind Energy Association); Stelios Loumakis (SPEF – Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Energy Producers); and Stelios Psomas (SEF/HELAPCO – Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies).

Key sector entrpreneurs and executives who have so far confirmed their participation include: Ioannis Kalafatas (Mytilineos); Kyriakos Kofinas (PPC); Nikolaos Zahariadis (Elpedison); Anastasios Lostarakos (NRG); Dinos Nikolaou (Energean); Kostis Sifnaios (Gastrade); Nikolaos Satras (Dioryga Gas); Panos Nikou (Volterra); and Ioannis Kokkotos (ABB).

The forum’s full agenda will be finalized and announced in the coming days.

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 demand falls again, sliding 9.87 percent

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Electricity demand has recorded a new overall reduction, falling 9.87 percent in November, latest monthly market data published by power grid operator IPTO has shown.

The biggest reduction, 11.9 percent, or 395 GWh, was recorded on the mainland grid. Demand through the Cretan grid interconnection fell by 10 GWh, while demand recorded by high-voltage consumers dropped by 8 GWh, or 1.4 percent, the IPTO data showed.

Power utility PPC increased its share of the electricity market to 61.14 percent, up from 56.51 percent in the previous month, according to the IPTO data.

Mytilineos captured a market share of 8.74 percent, down from 12.89 percent. Heron followed with a market share of 7.25 percent, from 7.46 percent. Elpedison was next with 6.31 percent from 6.51 percent, followed by NRG, at 4.64 percent from 4.71 percent, Fysiko Aerio at 2.4 percent from 2.33 percent, Volterra at 2.12 percent from 2.36 percent, Watt & Volt at 2 percent from 1.91 percent; Zenith at 1.98 percent from 1.84 percent, Volton at 1.01 percent from 1.03 percent and the remainder of companies at 2.40 percent from 2.45 percent.

 

Power retailers set higher January prices, up at least 25%

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The country’s electricity suppliers have announced significantly higher household power prices for January, up at least 25 percent compared to December, driven higher by a latest wholesale electricity price surge.

The government is expected to provide electricity subsidies that will bring down January’s retail prices to a level of between 15 and 17 cents per KWh.

A recently introduced domestic market rule requires the country’s electricity retailers to announce their retail prices for each forthcoming month by the 20th of the preceding month.

Power utility PPC, the dominant player, announced a January price level of 48.9 cents per KWh for monthly consumption of up to 500 KWh and 50.01 cents for consumption over this level, a 29 percent increase from December.

Elpedison announced a price of 45 cents per KWh for its Electricity HomeDay package, up from 35 cents in December.

Heron’s January retail price was set at 36 cents per KWh, including a punctuality discount. This supplier’s offer reaches 45 cents per KWh without the discount.

Protergia’s residential MVP Plus offer was set at 44.8 cents per KWh. Watt + Volt’s Zero Plus offer was priced at 45.9 cents per KWh. Fysiko Aerio announced a rate of 35.8 cents per KWh for its MAXI Free BASIC package, a price level including a punctuality discount. Zenith’s January price for its Power Home Basic package is 46.5 cents per KWh. NRG’s offer for its NRG Prime package is 44 cents per KWh.

Volton announced a price of 44.9 cents per KWh. Volterra set its price at 51.8 cents per KWh, while Elin’s rate was set at a standard level of 37.5 cents per KWh, regardless of consumption level.

 

Electricity demand falls for fourth consecutive month

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Electricity demand in the household and business categories fell for a fourth consecutive month in October, plunging 9.25 percent compared to the equivalent month a year earlier, power grid operator IPTO’s monthly report has shown.

This downward trend highlights the efforts being made by anxious consumers to keep their energy costs down. At this rate, Greece appears to be on target to achieve the country’s energy-saving goals.

Electricity demand had fallen 3.27 percent in September, 13.17 percent in August, and 11.78 percent in July.

In terms of quantity, electricity demand fell to 3,604 GWh last month from 3,971 GWh in October, 2021, according to the IPTO report.

Domestic electricity production also dropped sharply last month, falling 22.94 percent compared to October, 2021, to 3,155 GWh.

Market shares of electricity retailers also changed. Power power PPC’s market share dropped below 60 percent for the first time in months, reaching 56.73 percent, down from 60.81 percent in September.

Protergia, a member of the Mytilineos group, gained from PPC’s loss, its market share climbing, for a second consecutive month, to 12.88 percent from 8.77 percent in September.

Heron maintained third place with a 7.31 percent market share, followed by Elpedison (6.50%), NRG (4.66%), Fysiko Aerio (2.32%), Volterra (2.29%), Watt & Volt (1.93%), Zenith (1.87%) and Volton (1.04%).

 

 

PPC’s October tariff down 25%, similar cuts by all players

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Power utility PPC, the dominant retail player, has announced an October tariff for households of 0.595 cents per KWh, 25 percent lower than the September tariff offered by the utility.

This 25 percent month-to-month reduction rate more or less applies for October household tariffs offered by all the country’s suppliers, who have just announced their tariffs for next month.

Under new market rules, electricity retailers must announce their tariffs for forthcoming months by the 20th of each preceding month.

PPC’s tariff of 0.595 cents per KWh is for monthly consumption of up to 500 KWh. The utility’s tariff for consumption over this level was set at 0.607 euros per KWh.

Protergia announced an October household tariff of 0.57630 euros/KWh. Elpedison’s October tariff was set at 0.5905 euros/KWh. Heron’s new tariff is 0.698 euros/KWh, with a punctuality discount rate of 20 percent that reduces its level to 0.5584 euros/KWh. Elsewhere, October household tariffs are: Volterra, 0.685 euros/KWh; Fysiko Aerio, 0.594 euros/KWh; Zenith, 0.589 euros/KWh; Watt+Volt, 0.5890 euros/KWh; Elin, 0.599 euros/KWh; Volton, 0.589 euros/KWh.

In September, the government spent 1.9 billion euros on electricity subsidies to contain retail prices at levels of between 14 and 16 cents per KWh.

Subsidies for October, to be inversely related to consumption, are scheduled to be announced today.

Households cut back on power use, overall demand higher

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Electricity demand in the household and business low-voltage category fell for a second consecutive month in May, as consumers seek to limit their energy costs, data in a latest monthly report announced by power grid operator IPTO have shown.

However, overall electricity demand increased by 2.68 percent in May, compared to April, a development attributed to a rebound in consumption in the hospitality and entertainment sectors following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, as well as higher temperatures, the IPTO data showed.

As for retail market shares, power utility PPC remained dominant in May, maintaining a share of approximately 64 percent share, held since the beginning of the year, according to the IPTO figures.

Mytilineos registered a 7.19 percent share in May, Heron’s share was 6.57 percent and Elpedison’s captured a 6.26 percent share. They were followed by NRG (4.23%), Volterra (2.08%), Fysiko Aerio (2.05%), Watt & Volt (2.01%), Zenith (1.73%) and Volton (1.35%).

PPC seeking big-name offshore wind farm partnerships

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Power utility PPC is seeking to establish a strategic partnership with a major international partner or partners for co-development of offshore wind farms in Greek territory as a follow-up to its partial acquisition of energy firm Volterra’s renewable energy portfolio, namely 112 MW in wind and solar energy projects, both already operating and under construction.

PPC is looking at offshore wind farm collaborations with the likes of Norway’s Aker, France’s Total and EDF, as well as Germany’s RWE. The Greek power utility has already held discussions with some of these companies, according to sources. Partnerships could be established with one company or even two, offering 33.3 percent shares to each.

According to the sources, PPC aims to have reached an agreement for offshore wind farm collaborations within the summer, concurrent to the energy ministry’s establishment of a legal framework for an offshore wind farm sector in Greek sea territory.

The ministry’s framework for the sector is nearing completion and could be forwarded for consultation as soon as mid-June.

This explains why PPC is currently giving preference to offshore wind farm projects in Greece over wind and PV project acquisitions in the Balkans, which the company has kept a close watch on for investment opportunities since the end of 2021.

PPC Renewables agrees to buy Volterra 112-MW RES projects

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PPC Renewables, a subsidiary of power utility PPC, appears to have finalized details for a partial acquisition of energy firm Volterra’s renewable energy portfolio, namely 112 MW in wind and solar energy projects, both already operating and under construction. An official announcement on the agreement is expected to be announced today.

The anticipated acquisition by PPC Renewables, which does not include any of Volterra’s retail electricity market interests, currently pressured, promises to bolster the market presence of the buyer.

PPC Renewables is pursuing a plan aiming for 7.2 GW in installed RES capacity by 2024 and 9.1 GW by 2026, an investment initiative worth 8.4 billion euros.

In addition to its agreement with Volterra, a member of the AVAX construction group, one of Greece’s largest, PPC is also examining other RES sector opportunities in Greece and other Balkans markets, the focus on Bulgaria and Romania.

Volterra, holding a retail electricity market share of nearly 2.1 percent, has faced relentless cash-flow pressure, a key factor behind the parent company’s decision for electricity market disinvestment.

Gas-fired generation up 72.3% in February, PPC holds ground

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Natural gas-fueled electricity generation rose sharply, by 72.3 percent, or 622 GWh, in February compared to the equivalent month a year earlier, according to power grid operator IPTO’s monthly report.

This increased generation essentially filled a gap created by lower hydropower production, which dropped by 76.3 percent, or 659 GWh, during the aforementioned period.

Lignite-fired electricity generation fell by 20.3 percent, or 105 GWh, in February compared to the same month in 2021, the IPTO report showed.

These changes highlight the importance of natural gas-fueled power stations for the country’s energy mix, supply security, and grid flexibility, market authorities told energypress.

Overall electricity generation in February reached 3,506 GWh, down 2.61 percent compared to the equivalent month a year earlier.

Natural gas-fueled generation represented a 54.13 percent share of this total production, renewable energy sources generated 40.02 percent, while hydropower units contributed 5.85 percent of the month’s total.

Market shares in the country’s retail electricity market remained virtually unchanged in February, the IPTO report showed.

Power utility PPC did not give away any ground, capturing a 64.23 percent share of the retail electricity market in February, marginally up from January’s 64.1 percent.

Mytilineos was ranked second with a 6.92 percent share, followed by Heron (6.48%), Elpedison (5.78%), NRG (4.19%), Watt & Volt (2.35%), Fysiko Aerio (2.04%), Volterra (2.01%), Zenith (1.89%) and Volton (1.49%).

 

Bids for Volterra in March, company continuing RES development

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Prospective bidders for the partial or full sale of energy company Volterra, a subsidiary of the AVAX construction group, have been informed to prepare for binding bids within March, according to an update delivered by a major consulting firm commissioned by AVAX for the sale procedure.

This information emerged during a series of meetings staged last week by energy minister Kostas Skrekas and RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, with the country’s energy suppliers, behind in their relay of energy-bill surcharge amounts to market operators and municipalities.

In accordance with standard company policy, AVAX always considers every possible option, depending on market conditions and its broader strategy, in order to to best utilize its assets and stakes, the construction group has announced.

Besides its activity in the retail energy market, Volterra is also continuing to develop its investment plan in renewables, a sector in which the company holds a strong RES portfolio with a capacity of 285 MW, comprising ten projects at various stages of maturity.

PPC holding on to market share regained during crisis, at 64.5%

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Power utility PPC is holding on strong to its market share recaptured over the past five months, during the energy crisis, ending January with a retail electricity market share of 64.5 percent, the other 35.5 percent shared by independent rivals, latest monthly data released by the Greek energy exchange has shown.

PPC’s 64.5 percent market share in January is marginally higher than its December market share and nearly half a percentage point above November’s level of 64.19 percent.

The power utility’s market share had shrunk by nearly five percentage points between January and September last year, falling as low as 62.62 percent, but has steadily regained ground over the past five months.

PPC’s pricing policy appears to have been a key factor in luring customers away from independent suppliers. The power utility has continued offering discounts, which, combined with state subsidies offered during the ongoing energy crisis, have cut electricity costs further.

Among the independent suppliers, Protergia continued to lead the pack in January with a market share of 7.07 percent. Heron was next with 6.42 percent and was followed by Elpedison with 6.06 percent, NRG with 4.36 percent, Watt & Volt with 2.66 percent, Fysiko Aerio Ellados with 2.11 percent, Zenith with 1.99 percent, Volterra with 1.79 percent and Volton with 1.61 percent.

PPC retail market share remains high, 64.37% in August

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Power utility PPC’s retail electricity market share remains high, capturing 64.37 percent in August, down slightly from the previous month’s 65.25 percent, a latest report issued by the Greek energy exchange has shown.

The slight contraction does not represent a wider change in the overall market, but, instead, has been attributed to a market share gain by one supplier, Elpedison, a joint venture involving petroleum group ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum) and Italy’s Edison, following ELPE’s decision to stop receiving high-voltage electricity from PPC for supply from Elpedison. As a result, Elpedison’s retail electricity market share increased to 5.69 percent from 4.44 percent, placing the company in third place among the independent electricity suppliers.

PPC has essentially maintained recent market share gains in the retail market’s low and medium-voltage categories following power bill hikes made by independent suppliers as a result of their decisions to trigger wholesale cost-related clauses included in their electricity bills.

The entire field of independent electricity suppliers increased their overall share to 35.63 percent in August from 34.75 percent in July.

Protergia, a member of the Mytilineos group, led the pack of independent suppliers with a 7.67 percent market share in August, marginally below July’s 7.85 percent. Heron followed in second place with 6.4 percent in August from 6.77 percent in July and Elpedison was ranked third with aforementioned figures. NRG ranked fourth with 4.42 percent from 4.26 percent, while Watt and Volt was ranked fifth with an unchanged market share of 2.67 percent. Volterra was sixth with 2.05 percent from 2.07 percent, Fysiko Aerio Attikis seventh with 1.87 percent from 1.94 percent, Zenith eighth with 1.56 percent from 1.55 percent, Volton ninth with 1.46 percent from 1.43 percent and KEN tenth with 0.75 percent, unchanged from July to August.

PPC loss of low-voltage customers slows down in 2Q

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Data for the year’s second quarter has shown a slowdown in power utility PPC’s market share contraction rate in the low voltage category.

PPC’s reduced loss of customers in the second quarter has been primarily attributed to the utility’s modernized commercial policy and a more focused marketing strategy.

Between April and June, a total of 68,000 households and small businesses, a monthly average of just over 22,000, left PPC for other electricity suppliers, down from a monthy exit rate of between 30,000 and 35,000 over the past year and a half.

The higher exit rate of PPC customers was maintained until the end of the first quarter, when 103,000 customers left the utility over the three-month period.

PPC represented 5.1 million of the country’s 6.6 million low-voltage connections around the country in the second quarter, a 75.1 percent share.

Low-voltage customers represented by independent electricity suppliers reached the level of 1.5 million for the first time.

Among the independent suppliers, Protergia, a member of the Mytilineos group, was at the forefront, according to second quarter data, with a 3.94 percent share, followed by Elpedison (3.67%), Heron (3.32%), Watt & Volt (2.6%), Zenith (2.48%), Volton (1.75%), NRG (1.99%), Aerio Attikis (1.5%) and Volterra (0.57%).

Electricity market shares unchanged in March, imports up

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The overall market share of independent electricity suppliers remained unchanged at 34.2 percent in March, without any surprise reshuffling between these suppliers, as power utility PPC held on firmly to its previous month’s 65.8 percent share, a latest monthly report issued by the Greek energy exchange has shown.

Like PPC, the market shares of some independent suppliers remained unchanged in March, compared to the previous month, the report showed.

Mytilineos registered a 7.97 percent market share in March, unchanged from February.

Heron’s market share fell marginally to 6.34 percent in March from 6.38 percent in February; Elpedison’s market share rose to 4.85 percent from 4.79 percent; NRG captured 4 percent, up from 3.89 percent; Watt and Volt fell to 2.58 percent from 2.73 percent; Volterra registered 1.93 percent, from 1.96 percent; Fysiko Aerio Attikis rose to 1.81 percent from 1.75 percent; Volton captured 1.41 percent, from 1.39 percent; Zenith reached 1.41 percent, from 1.36 percent; ELTA’s market share remained unchanged at 0.63 percent; and KEN fell slightly to 0.56 percent from 0.58 percent.

Electricity imports exceeded electricity exports, in terms of volume, the energy exchange report showed.

Also, the number of hours of net imports grew against the number of hours of net exports, the data for March showed.

Suppliers want greater clarity on new customer switching rules

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Electricity suppliers have agreed, in principle, on new rules proposed by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, for customer switching, but demand greater clarity on a rule concerning the imposition of an upper limit on outstanding bills owed by customers seeking to switch suppliers.

Seven suppliers – power utility PPC, Protergia (Mytilineos Group), Heron, Elpedison, Volterra, Zenith and Fysiko Aerio/Hellenic Energy Company – and two associations – ESPEN (Greek Energy Suppliers Association), ESEPIE (Hellenic Association of Electricity Trading & Supply Companies) – took part in second-round public consultation staged by RAE, requesting views on three topics.

Preparations for the introduction of a debt-flagging system – the public consultation procedure’s second topic – offering general protection to suppliers by informing and preparing them on the track records of incoming customers, are headed in the right direction, participants agreed.

They also backed a RAE proposal that would permit suppliers to request electricity supply cuts from distribution network operator DEDDIE/HEDNO for exiting customers who have not settled outstanding electricity bills.

This measure promises to contribute to more effective management of electricity-bill debt and support supplier receivables, participants pointed out.

RAE, in its proposals, sets a six-month limit for suppliers to take action against customers once they have switched companies.

PPC gains 3% in retail market for November share of 66.3%

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Power utility PPC, the retail electricity market leader, gained an entire three percentage points in November, capturing a 66.33 percent share, up from 63.2 percent a month earlier, according to a latest energy exchange report.

The rankings among the market’s independent suppliers remained unchanged but minor market share gains and losses were reported for the month.

Protergia, a member of the Mytilineos group, shed over half a percentage point, dropping from 8.6 percent in October to 7.99 percent in November, but remained at the forefront among the independent suppliers.

Second-placed Heron also retreated slightly, to 6.55 percent in November from 6.97 percent in October, as did Elpedison, ranked third, to 4.67 percent from 5.05 percent.

Next in the rankings, NRG’s market share remained virtually unchanged, ending November at 3.37 percent from 3.38 percent in October.

Watt+Volt followed with a 2.69 share of the retail electricity market, up marginally from 2.67 percent, Volterra was next with 2.37 percent from 2.55 percent, Fysiko Aerio (Attiki GSC) made a slight gain to reach 1.61 percent from 1.48 percent, Zenith upped its share to 1.26 percent from 1.19 percent, Volton improved to 1.13 percent from 1.04 percent, and KEN remained virtually unchanged, at 0.59 percent from 0.6 percent.

Electricity exports increased and imports decreased in November, compared to a month earlier, the energy exchange data showed.

PPC’s business plan for 2021 to 2023 projects a reduction in customers from 6.1 million, last September, to 4.7 million, for a market share of 54 percent.

Electricity supplier switching by consumers up 89% in 2019

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Consumers switching electricity suppliers increased sharply by 89 percent in 2019, a report by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has shown.

A total of 576,436 consumers, 8.5 percent of the 6,783,075 consumers in total, switched suppliers in 2019, up from 4.51 percent in 2018, the report showed.

This sharp rise in consumer switches was attributed to growing consumer confidence in independent electricity suppliers as well as the effectiveness of discounts and various other offers made available by these suppliers to attract customers. Put simply, competition in the Greek electricity market appears to be intensifying.

Household electricity consumers showed the greatest degree of mobility, followed by mid and high-voltage consumers, or businesses and industrial consumers, the RAE report observed.

In the mid-voltage category, 834 business and industrial consumers of 9,071 in total, or 9.19 percent, switched electricity suppliers in 2019, according to the report.

Despite the increased customer mobility, power utility PPC remained dominant in 2019, supplying electricity to 5,694,627 consumers, or 83.95 percent of the 6,783,075 in total, the report showed. In terms of consumption, PPC held a 71.13 percent share, supplying 27.7 million MWh last year.

Independent supplier Protergia, a member of the Mytilineos group, was ranked second in terms of total number of customers in 2019, supplying to 181,232 customers, the report noted.

Elpedison was ranked third with 171,143 customers, followed by Heron (140,812), Watt & Volt (127,364), Zenith (73,968), Volton (69,688), NRG (52,961), Fysiko Aerio (39,881), Volterra (35,748) and KEN (33,997).

A total of 24 independent suppliers are active in Greece’s electricity market.

Vestas reinforces dominance with new deals, including 54-MW order

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Vestas, a leading global partner for sustainable energy solutions, has further strengthened its leadership position in Greece with new orders  for wind projects placed by Volterra and Iberdrola, Vestas has announced.

Volterra has placed a 54-MW order for 15 V117-3.45 MW wind turbines delivered in 3.6 MW Power Optimised Mode for two wind parks in the Viotia region, northwest of Athens, according to a Vestas announcement.

Underlining Vestas’ ability to support customers in securing wind diverse energy projects, the order includes both the Kastro-Likovouni wind park derived from Greece’s feed-in premium system and the Ampelia wind park awarded at the country’s second renewables auction held in December 2018, Vestas informed.

“This order showcases the extent of the capabilities we offer to our customers as it covers projects derived from different energy schemes. Our vast experience, strong customer knowledge and leading technological solutions make Vestas the wind energy leader globally as well as in Greece. We are very glad to continue our very successful collaboration with Volterra”, said Marios Zangas, Head of Vestas Hellas.

Turbine delivery is planned for the second and third quarters of 2020 and commissioning for the second half of 2020.

Furthermore, Vestas has also won a 16-MW auction-derived order from Iberdrola for the Pyrgari wind park located in Viotia, the company  announced.

“We are very proud to have helped Iberdrola win this project and it underlines how our local experience and technology leadership enables us to successfully support our customers in the Greek auctions. We
believe that the project will benefit from the V150-4.2 MW turbine’s extremely competitive Levelised Cost of Energy and its perfect fit with the site’s wind conditions”, Zangas, the Vestas Hellas chief, noted.

In other company news, Vestas has also won an order for an 88-MW wind park in Greece with a 20-year Active Output Management 4000 (AOM 4000) service agreement, it announced. Other details remain undisclosed.

For this order, Vestas has developed a solution that includes the supply and installation of 21 V136-4.2 MW turbines equipped with Vestas Anti-Icing System to optimize performance at the site’s specific
climatic conditions, the company noted, adding the solution will minimize the risk of icing on the turbine blades, maximizing energy production in cold climate conditions.

These agreements lift the company’s total orders in Greece to over 1.9 GW and increase its market share to more than 50 percent, Vesta announced. The company installed the country’s first wind turbine back in 1986.

Since Greece launched its transition to an auction-based renewable energy system last year, Vestas has won more auctioned capacity than any other solutions provider, the company noted.

RES player Volterra entering low-voltage power supply market

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Driven by its dynamic market presence as a renewable energy producer, especially wind-generated energy, Volterra, a member of the J&P Avax corporate group, is preparing to also enter the low-voltage electricity market for supply to the household and business sectors.

Volterra, whose retail electricity market presence is currently limited to 0.85 percent of the mid-voltage market, intends to move cautiously with this latest initiave, the company has noted. Upcoming legal and regulatory developments concerning Greece’s retail electricity market should prove crucial for Volterra’s market penetration bid.

The company, seeking to further boost its renewable energy profile, is pressing ahead with an investment plan aiming to increase Volterra’s installed RES capacity to 300 MW. A total capacity of 150 MW within the next three years is seen as an attainable intermediate target, according to Volterra.

Development of a 16-MW Volterra wind farm in Etoloakarnania, northwestern Greece, expected to begin operating next April, is now in progress.

A 54-MW wind farm in Viotia, slightly northwest of the wider Athens area, is planned to follow.

Development of a 108-MW wind farm project on the north Aegean island Samothrace, planned to include a 47 kilometer submarine cable for a mainland link, as well as an overland 15 kilometer cable offering a connection with Evros, on Greece’s northeastern tip, stands as Volterra’s most ambitious of its current RES projects.

Company officials are currently focused on preliminary work concerning the Samothrace project, including licensing, before construction work is launched.

Volterra permitted to keep paying half surcharge amount until final verdict

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An Athens Court of First Instance has permitted electricity supplier Volterra to continue paying 50 pecent of an electricity supplier surcharge, based on a preceding temporary court decision, until a final verdict is delivered within the next few months.

Volterra had filed a case against LAGIE, the Electricity Market Operator, seeking protection from higher-than-expected surcharge payments, used to eliminate the RES special account.

Four other electricity suppliers, Elpedison, Protergia, Heron and Watt+Volt, had also filed separate cases against LAGIE but these were eventually withdrawn.

The issue emerged when supplier surcharge amounts, revised weekly, skyrocketed and prompted reactions from suppliers. In January, main power utility PPC, the market’s dominant supplier, decided to stop paying LAGIE its share of the surcharge, determined by market shares.

A month later, independent suppliers followed suit and, in addition, took legal action, fearing they could be removed from the electricity suppliers’ registry, as is specified by market regulations. PPC did not fear such a prospect as it controls nearly 90 percent of Greece’s retail electricity market.

Authorities needed to intervene after the supplier surcharge rose well over anticipated levels. The surcharge level has since subsided.

In the first week of May, the surcharge registered 7.1 euros per MWh, followed by 7.01 euros per MWh in the month’s second week. Such levels were anticipated in a related study conducted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki prior to the surcharge’s introduction last October.

 

 

Volterra, making gains in retail market, plans RES production

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Independent electricity supplier Volterra, a joint venture established by two major corporate groups, local J&P-Avax and Italian energy company Sorgenia, has developed into a quiet achiever in the Greek market.

Pushed along by a steady growth rate, Volterra is establishing its place in the electricity supply company, proceeding with a major investment plan in the wind-energy field, and also expanding its transboundary electricity trading activity in the Balkan and wider European markets.

“We have entered the Greek energy market with the intention to stay. We are an emerging company, possess a serious and realistic growth plan that stands firmly on its feet, and have the support of two powerful partners,” Volterra’s general manager, Panos Nikou, told energypress. “We respect the competition and, naturally, expect the competition to respect us,” he continued.

To date, Volterra has almost entirely focused on the medium-voltage category in the electricity supply sector, but the firm plans to soon broaden its range and include professionals and households in its target market.

“This, of course, will be pursued under the condition that market regulations are stabilized and market mechanisms – such as the NOME-type auctions – established, which will offer opportunities and facilitate our  business plan,” Nikou pointed out.

The NOME-type auction plan, believed to be nearly ready for introduction, is intended to provide third parties with access to main power utility PPC’s low-cost lignite and hydropower sources as part of the bailout-related obligation to help break the utility’s virtual monopoly.

Nikou said Volterra’s major corporate backing offers security to consumers, adding that the level of awareness of the supplier’s consumer-focused principles is gradually increasing.

“We will continue this way, with studied moves and the basic aim for a stable and robust growth rate, not a spectacular market share increase,” Nikou remarked.

A previous bad experience in Greece’s electricity market several years ago, when the retail market entries of two now-defunct suppliers, Energa and Hellas Power, both ended in financial scandal, has made consumers suspicious and hesitant to leave PPC, depite the fact that transferring to an alternate power supplier is a simple, safe, and beneficial procedure, Nikou noted.

Besides its activity in electricity supply, Volterra is currently implementing an investment decision for the establishment of a strong portfolio in electricity production, especially in the wind energy sector.

Volterra plans to develop wind-energy facilities with a total capacity of 120 MW as soon as Greece’s institutional framework for the renewable energy (RES) sector is clarified, Nikou said, adding that the enterprise aims to be operating company-owned wind-energy facilities with a total capacity of 250 MW by 2020.

The official noted Greece possesses excellent wind-energy potential but has fallen behind on obligations taken on to achieve EU climate change objectives.

“If investments such as ours and those of other major corporate groups are to be actualized, the institutional framework needs to be clarified and the Greek State must offer assistance by eliminating disincentives and difficulties,” Nikou said. “A sense of uncertainty, caused by the country’s economic condition and the distress in the banking system, is always lurking. Although these factors are crucial, they do not only affect our field,” he continued.

Besides the need for greater clarity in the RES sector, the Volterra official stressed licensing procedures also need to be swiftened, adding that the Greek State should intervene to offer solutions, not create new problems.