Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodore’s Skylakakis, reinforced the government’s commitment to maintaining affordable kilowatt-hour costs for consumers, while discussing electricity bill support for Greek households, as winter approaches. Mr Skylakakis clarified that by early December, a more precise subsidy framework in order to prevent tariff escalations. He also highlighted that subsidy amounts and consumer benefits will correlate directly with provider policies and tariffs and confirmed ontinued support for residential electricity rates and indicated upcoming interventions for small and medium enterprises.
Discussing tariff complexities, Mr. Skylakakis explained that the green tariff offers pricing transparency, while the blue tariff provides stability during market volatility and advised consumers to select tariffs matching their energy consumption patterns. He elaborated that green tariffs enable consumers and government to anticipate wholesale price impacts and explained that in upcoming months natural gas price increases may occur due to the Russia-Ukraine transit contract termination, affecting 5% of European gas supply. Additional complications may arise from U.S. banking restrictions on Russian gas transaction facilitators, incrementally driving gas prices upward. Regarding European energy solutions, he stated that unified European Commission approach seems unlikely in the next 2-3 months.
He hinted at a nuanced approach regarding reduced tariffs and added that consumers should expect a hybrid model combining nighttime and midday hour discounts. Compared to standard tariffs, this system will generate consumer savings, applying on weekends with selective hour restrictions. Evening hours (6:00 PM to 10:00 PM) will remain price-sensitive due to increased natural gas electricity generation.
Regarding the heating allowance, with nearly one million applications received, Skylakakis revealed that the government is evaluating potential application deadline extensions, and reassured that all eligible applicants will receive their allowance, distributed across three installments. Approximately one million vulnerable households are exempt, as the government delivered on securing permanently reduced electricity prices for them, irrespective of consumption motivations.
