Unpaid electricity bills totaled 1.7 bln euros at end-September

By Chryssa Liaggou

Soaring debts from unpaid electricity bills are not only threatening the Public Power Corporation but also the country’s entire electricity market.

According to data from the end of September, the list of consumers that owe a total of 1.7 billion euros includes customers of all categories, from socially sensitive groups to small industries, local authorities and even ministries.

Unpaid bills have been mounting at an alarming rate over the last few years due to the introduction of the property levy paid through the power bills, and the debt total was already at 1.3 billion euros at end-2013.

This has now grown further and PPC is seeking ways to recover some of that money in order to keep the local electricity market from collapsing.