Upper limit for target model agreements a contentious issue

Imposing an upper limit on day-ahead market bilateral agreements has developed into one of the most contentious issues in the lead-up to the target model.

Opposing views were voiced, once again, last Friday at an IENE (Institute of Energy for Southeast Europe) conference.

Industrial sector officials fear the implementation of a single-digit upper limit, as requested by ESAI/HAIPP, the Hellenic Association of Independent Power Producers, would not provide industrial enterprises with enough space to reach agreements with power utility PPC as a means of covering their needs.

Imposing an upper limit on PPC’s forward contracts would cancel out the industrial sector’s accessibility to such products, EVIKEN (Association of Industrial Energy Consumers) board member Antonis Kontoleon told the IENE event.

The imposition of such a limit on PPC should be matched for all vertically integrated players, Kontoleon added.

Such a limit would prevent producers from establishing forward agreements with their own supply firms.

ESAI/HAIPP chief official Giorgos Stamtsis noted that the structure of the Greek market is characterized by the presence of one dominant company with exclusive access to lignite, major-scale hydropower facilities, as well as a very high market shares in the retail market, over 70 percent, as well as the wholesale market.