The Greek government is leaning towards increasing a RES-supporting ETMEAR surcharge included in electricity bills as it realizes such a hike represents the only solution that could contain the RES special account’s widening deficit.
The energy ministry, currently collecting and examining related data, appears to be contemplating a single-digit ETMEAR surcharge increase of around 5 percent.
Though final decisions have yet to be reached, energy ministry officials are already making clear that the RES special account’s deficit problem cannot be addressed without an ETMEAR surcharge hike. An announcement, ministry sources have informed, will be made during the summer.
The current ETMEAR rate, approximately 17 euros per MWh, well below a level of 24 euros per MWh charged in 2019, needs to more accurately reflect market conditions as well as price levels in other parts of Europe, Giannis Giarentis, President at DAPEEP, the RES market operator, told the Delphi Economic Forum yesterday.
The RES special account is currently in deficit territory of roughly 90 million euros and is projected to exceed 200 million euros by the end of the year, the DAPEEP chief noted, adding government action is needed.
Even so, RES producers have enjoyed far swifter payments for their output in recent years, Giarentis pointed out, noting the waiting period has been reduced to 20 days.
