Electric power distribution

The wholesale electricity markets of South and Eastern Europe are seeing prices reminiscent of the energy crisis, led by the Hungarian market, where the rate on Wednesday shot up to 263.99 euros per megawatt-hour.

Grid operator DEDDIE has got some particularly worrying data on electricity theft, since the relevant costs are passed on to electricity bills.

In January-May this year, the power thefts detected by the DEDDIE crews increased by 50% compared to the corresponding period of 2023 and 2022.

The European electricity industry is expected to send a warning on Wednesday from Athens to the European Union ahead of the June 9 European elections that "keeping the lights on can no longer be taken for granted."

Cutbacks in the generation of power from renewable energy sources exceeded all precedent over the Easter holidays, aimed to maintain system stability due to falling demand and high RES output.

The most difficult day was Easter Sunday, specifically around midday, when RES production peaked due to the high output of photovoltaics.

Grid losses and power thefts in 2021 and 2022 have been ascertained by Greek power grid operator DEDDIE to amount to 500 million euros. The bill was sent to providers, which in turn are passing it on to consumers.

Therefore, while wholesale electricity prices are going down, consumers will see no benefit in April nor the next few months.

The Energy Ministry is preparing emergency measures to shield the grid and avoid blackout phenomena, as it has been found that transient events such as a lightning strike or smoke from a fire could even lead to a general blackout.

More than 250 million euros from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will finance the first stage of high-voltage electricity infrastructure between the island of Crete and the Attica region, the European Commission announced on Thursday. 

Power rates may be going down thanks to the drop in fuel prices, but the regulatory charges continue to rise in electricity bills.

Since last May, the fees for the use of the grid, in favor of its operator (DEDDIE), have almost doubled, adding to an average household's energy costs 76 euros per annum (from €98 to €174) and they are set to rise further.

The vast majority (95%) of electricity consumers have chosen the so-called "green" rates (more than 85% of private providers' customers and almost all of Public Power Corporation's customers) and few seem willing to move to another tariff or provider, as they wait for February's rates to be set.

Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis announced the reading of meters for electricity consumption every month for all categories of meters by the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE) in an interview with Antenna TV on Thursday.