Electricity pricing

Vrhnika – Prime Minister Janez Janša has announced that the government will continue to intervene as long as necessary to contain high electricity prices. The main problem, in his view, is the European formula to calculate electricity prices that takes into account gas prices, but the formula is about to change.

The Turkish government is working on arrangements to reduce electricity bills some 25 percent for businesses, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez has said.

"A multiple-grade tariff will be brought for small businesses. A discount of 25 percent is being considered for the low-consumption grade," he told a private broadcaster on Feb. 17.

Authorities are putting the final touches on work to ease the burden of electricity bills on households and businesses.

Government officials are devising a plan with different options, expected to be submitted to the cabinet soon.

Much of the electricity price hikes have been avoided by consumers, with subsidies starting last September and - according to assurances by Environment and Energy Minister Costas Skrekas, they will be maintained for as long as the energy crisis lasts.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said on Feb. 11 that the Turkish government is determined to draw up broad measures soon that will provide relief to families and businesses amid soaring utility bills.

Some restaurants apparently began charging customers for heating in the face of rising electricity prices and other costs, triggering a debate and criticism among people, but representatives from the sector say this is not a widespread policy.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez will meet with representatives of electricity distribution companies in the afternoon today.

The main topic of the meeting will be investments that should be made to protect households against disruptions caused by natural disasters.

Electricity and gas prices in Greece are much lower than the European average, despite the large increases borne by households.

The government is currently weighing several options to lower the electricity costs of households and businesses.

At the start of the year, a gradual tariff was introduced for households' consumption and the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) set the limit in the two-stage electricity billing system as 150 kilowatt-hours.

Up to BGN 250 per megawatt-hour will be compensated for schools, community centers and children's institutions for the two months of January and February, announced the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Asen Vassilev in the blitz parliamentary control. The funds are from additional revenues and are BGN 450 million.