The Greek government will unveil this autumn a package of measures to support vulnerable households, families with more than three children and people living in areas of increased energy needs who are forced to spend a significant part of their income on energy, Environment and Energy Minister Theodore Skylakakis said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA).
Skylakakis announced that a new framework to combat strategic bad payers in the energy market will be unveiled in the next few months with cross-checking of incomes, assets, deposits, etc, and to combat stealing of electricity which cost 4% on the country’s electricity bills. “Those who steal electricity will pay dearly,” he noted.
Skylakakis noted that energy cost was one of the main concerns for businessmen and that the government’s top priority was to enhance predictability of energy costs and the resistance of enterprises on sharp energy swings, using renewable energy sources as the main tool, combined with raising available electricity through strengthening grids, installing smart electricity meters and rapidly raising energy storage. At the same time, the government promotes energy saving programmes and encourage the signing of PPAs to facilitate more direct access of enterprises in the energy market.
He also said that an existing electricity pricing system will be extended until December 31, 2023, offering regulatory authorities and suppliers enough time to prepare for the transition towards a new framework. He stressed that the country was not expected to experience any short of big problems with energy supplies during the winter, since the government has managed to significantly increase LNG storage facility, deepening regional cooperation. A FSRU terminal in Alexandroupolis -scheduled to begin in the next few months- will significantly reduce the dependence of the region from Russian natural gas, releasing a significant export potential from Greece to the Balkans. At the same time, test operations of a modern lignite unit in Ptolemaida has begun, he noted.
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
