Greek electricity suppliers are set to receive expanded powers aimed at tackling unpaid power bills estimated at around €3 billion. The rules come as authorities address concerns over how outstanding balances can persist when customers move between providers.
About half of the outstanding debt is linked to consumers who have changed suppliers. Authorities say this has raised concern that customers may leave unpaid amounts behind after switching.
Electricity Supply Code revisions on switching eligibility
Revisions to the Electricity Supply Code would allow switching to be blocked in specific circumstances. Switching may be halted if a disconnection order for non-payment is already active.
The code also provides for blocking where a consumer has delinquency records submitted by at least three suppliers. A dedicated database will be created to record repeated payment problems.
Customer registration, instalment offers and delinquency steps
Suppliers will be able to reject some prospective customers who have outstanding debts or repeated disconnection proceedings. Consumers will retain procedural protections under the framework.
One unpaid bill alone will not be sufficient for registration. After a second payment deadline is missed, suppliers must contact the consumer, issue a reminder, and offer instalment arrangements.
If the customer rejects an instalment arrangement or later breaches it, suppliers can proceed with delinquency registration and a meter-disconnection order. Restrictions must be removed once the debt is settled or a formal repayment agreement is reached.
Rules covering final bills after successful switching
The framework also covers consumers who successfully change supplier but then fail to pay their final bill to their previous provider. This extends the approach to unpaid balances that arise after a completed switch.
