At 72 euros the electricity subsidy for the month of March

From 40 euros per month, the subsidy for electricity bills increases to 72 euros per month, as the Minister of Environment and Energy, K. Skrekas, recently announced.

Based on the announcements made recently by the government staff, the total amount of support measures reaches 1.1 billion. euros and is addressed to 3 million citizens. The 3 axes of the measures include the significant increase of the electricity subsidy, the support of vulnerable citizens and the subsidy of the price of fuel.

According to Finance Minister Ch. Staikouras, the measures are:

First, the subsidy for electricity to households and businesses is significantly increased, reaching 640 million euros for April.

Secondly, aid is paid to vulnerable categories of citizens and specifically 1.5 additional installment of child allowance is given to the beneficiaries while an allowance of 200 euros is given to low-income pensioners and other vulnerable categories of citizens

Thirdly, fuel consumption is subsidized and the price of diesel is reduced. The direct subsidy of the price of fuel is made for individuals with a family income of up to 30 thousand euros, with an amount of 22 cents per liter for 54 liters of fuel per month. The selling price of diesel for April is also subsidized at the source so that the benefit rises to 15 cents per liter.

Electricity

According to the Minister of Energy K. Skrekas, the subsidy for electricity is as follows:

The grant will cover all benefits of main residence, as declared in E1 (approximately 4.2 million benefits), regardless of income, area of ​​residence or provider.

The average monthly aid for an average household consuming up to 300 KWh / month increases from 40 euros in March to 72 euros in April, an 80% increase.

Specifically in April, for the first 150 KWh consumption we subsidize with 270 euros per MWh, from 150 euros in March.

For the monthly consumption from 151 – 300 KWh we subsidize with 210 euros per MWh from 110 euros in March.

The average monthly aid for the CTO from 53 euros in March increases to 87 euros in April. That is, in vulnerable households we subsidize with 290 euros per MWh the first 300 KWh of monthly consumption.

The total amount of the subsidy for households in April amounts to 218 million euros from 148 million in March.

For citizens who did not declare their main residence benefit number in last year’s income declaration, they will have to fill in the benefit number in the new tax return, and they will be given the corresponding subsidy retroactively from January.

Also, in collaboration with AADE, in the new tax returns, a field is created for the completion of a student residence number. In these benefits that will be declared in this year’s tax returns, the corresponding subsidy will be given retroactively from January.

Electricity – Subsidy to Non-Household Invoices, ie to agricultural, commercial, industrial, professional, other uses etc.

For business consumers, the unit price of the subsidy doubles from 65 euros / MWh in March to 130 euros / MWh in April.

In addition, for very small and medium-sized enterprises with power supply up to 25kVA and for all bakeries regardless of power supply, we support with an additional subsidy of 100 euros / MWh of total consumption. So the total unit subsidy amounts to 230 euros / MWh. This measure concerns 1,160,000 professional services of companies such as restaurants, shops, kiosks, haberdashery, hairdressers, offices, bakery and is estimated at 35 million euros for April.

In addition, for all these companies with power supply up to 25 kva, we have an additional 75 million euros for the retroactive subsidy of total electricity consumption for the months of January, February and March in order to retroactively absorb 80% of the adjustment clause.

The retroactive subsidy will be given in three monthly installments starting in April.

In total for the month of April, the total subsidy for professional tariffs amounts to 313 million euros, from 132 million in March, an increase of 137%.

Natural Gas – Subsidy on Household Invoices – Households

The state subsidy will amount to 20 euros per thermal MWh in March for all households and for the total monthly consumption.

It concerns 540,000 household consumers regardless of income, size of home or provider.

At the same time, DEPA Trade offers a discount for March of 20 euros per thermal MWh.

In total, the benefit for households amounts to 40 euros per thermal MWh while the total amount of the subsidy from the Government for non-household gas consumers will amount to 43 million euros for March.

For the month of April, the subsidies will be announced at the end of March due to the intense volatility observed in the prices of Natural Gas in the last weeks so that we have a complete picture of the average price that will be formed.

Natural Gas – Subsidy on NON-Household (Commercial-Industrial) Invoices

We continue to subsidize Gas bills in March to all commercial and industrial consumers regardless of size, turnover and number of employees.

The subsidy will amount to 20 euros per thermal MWh for the total monthly consumption.

The total amount of the Government subsidy for non-household gas consumers will amount to 20 million euros for March

For these two months, we are taking a total of measures approaching 900 million euros and concerning both electricity and gas.

The spike in prices due to the Russian invasion proves that the country’s energy transition is a necessity and not a luxury.

The only reliable solution is faster decoupling from fossil fuel imports and a dynamic shift to clean energy from RES. This is necessary for both economic and environmental reasons.

The goal of the Government and the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is to make Greece an energy autonomous and competitive country, by utilizing its rich wind and solar potential. And at the same time to become a hub for interconnection and transfer of green energy for the whole of Europe.

With the measures of March and April, the Government will have allocated over 2.3 billion euros while the total aid and discounts from PPC and DEPA Commerce reach 1.261 billion euros. In total, almost 3.5 billion euros. No other European country has taken such drastic consumer protection measures in proportion to its population and the size of its economy.

As long as this unprecedented energy crisis lasts, we will support both households and businesses. We will continue to do so for as long as necessary.

Subsidies to the vulnerable

According to the announcements of Mr. Staikouras and Mr. Skylakakis, the emergency aid for the vulnerable citizens that will be granted before Easter is as follows:

1.5 monthly installment of child allowance to the beneficiaries of the allowance, ie 105 euros for each child concerning 625 thousand beneficiaries

200 euros allowance to 275 thousand low-income retirees

Double installment of the minimum guaranteed income for the beneficiaries

As far as the fuel subsidy is concerned, this will apply for April, May and June, while natural persons with a declared income of up to 30 thousand euros will be eligible.

With the subsidy the consumer for a fuel price of 2.1 euros will pay for the first 60 liters a price of 1.88 euros

Diesel is also subsidized in the internal market with 12 cents per liter at source and a benefit of 15 cents per liter. Thus, from a price of 2 euros per liter with the subsidy, the cost that the consumer will pay is at 1.85 euros. The cost of the measure for April amounts to 23 million euros.

Taxi owners will also be compensated 200 euros to deal with the high fuel costs.

Finally, with regard to aid for farmers, a zero VAT rate is set for agricultural oil, while a VAT rate of 6% is set at 13% for fertilizers.