Government subsidies, caps and market restraint have so far led to the absorption of a significant part of the consumer burden of the energy crisis, which has led to a rise in international prices for crude oil, liquid fuels and natural gas.
In the electricity sector, data on April’s green tariffs show an average increase of 17% compared to March, but the reality is different, for two reasons: First, for 1.6-1.7 million consumers contracted on fixed (blue) tariffs there is no increase. And secondly, suppliers representing the vast majority of consumers, with PPC leading the way with a share of more than 60 % in the low trend, have gone for single-digit increases, 6-7 % in the green tariffs.
The suppliers representing the vast majority of consumers, with PPC leading the way with a share of more than 60 % in the low trend, have gone for single-digit increases, 6-7 % in the green tariffs.
In absolute terms, “green” tariffs in April range from 14 to 25 cents per kilowatt-hour, while blue (fixed) tariffs in the same month start at 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, as the Regulatory Authority’s data show the majority of suppliers – despite estimates of increases – kept prices stable. So consumers worried about further increases in green tariffs due to the international energy crisis still have the option of locking in their tariffs for at least a year.
All the tariffs available on the market are posted on the relevant Regulatory Authority website, energycost.gr.
For diesel, the relief that came into effect last Wednesday, April 1, is 20 cents per litre. The difference is gradually being reflected in retail prices as petrol stations are supplied with the new prices.
On Monday, as planned, the application platform for the fuel pass, worth €50 (€60 on the islands) for cars and €30 for motorcycles (€35 on the islands), opens. The criteria (natural persons, including freelancers, with a family income of up to 25,000 euros for unmarried persons and 35,000 euros for married persons, plus 5,000 euros for each child) cover 75 % of drivers. It is noted that the fuel pass is given to all beneficiaries with private cars, which means that those who use cars with diesel engines will receive double support, i.e. the 20 cent subsidy on diesel and the fuel pass. Based on official data on average fuel consumption across Greece. (litres per month), the 50 euros of the fuel pass corresponds to a subsidy of about 36 cents per litre.
Critical to the transfer of subsidies to the pump is the cap on profit margins of 5 cents per litre at the wholesale and 12 cents at the retail level announced in early March.
