Concerns about a new wave of outstanding debts in the electricity market

Of Thanks to Floudopoulos

In the shadow of worries about a possible new wave of outstanding debts, the electricity market has been operating lately. Cause the waves of lawsuits, collective and individual that have been filed challenging the legality of the famous adjustment clause.

In fact, last week we had the issuance of a temporary order by the Athens Court of First Instance, which on the one hand exempted only the vulnerable groups from the obligation to pay the clause, and on the other hand did not avoid cultivating expectations of non-payment of bills for all consumers.

It should be noted that vulnerable groups such as people with serious illnesses, energy-poor households and the elderly are generally not faced with power outages.

On the contrary, if the temporary court order concerned the non-payment of the adjustment clause for all consumers and not just the vulnerable, then in essence Aeolus bags would be opened for a new domino of outstanding debts in the market.

It is noted that the issue was mentioned last week by a leading representative of the electricity market, who pointed out that the decision of PPC to request a pilot trial works in the right direction, however the waves of temporary orders requested by consumers across the country, can create a new wave of outstanding debts in the market.

He appeared worried and anxious about the extensions of the phenomenon at an extremely critical time for the market.

In any case, it is clear that with the request of PPC for a pilot trial in the Supreme Court, it is expected to clarify the issue once and for all, preventing possible new individual or group lawsuits that are being prepared and possible contradictory decisions of the courts of first instance across the country.

And in case the clause is deemed legal, then those consumers who have stopped paying it will be asked to pay it cumulatively and with interest, as had happened with the “I do not pay” movement of tolls.

Finally, it is noted that until the Supreme Court rules on the case, no other lawsuit can be discussed. In fact, the decision of the Supreme Court will judge once and for all the legality of the adjustment clause, which is not significantly abolished but its implementation is suspended in the context of the new operating model of the market and the ceiling that will be created in the wholesale stream.