EYDAP: The goal is to reduce operating costs

By Eleni Botas

“Our goal is to reduce operating costs and not to increase tariffs, which will remain stable in 2022.” This was stated a while ago by the CEO of EYDAP Ch. Sachini during the presentation of the financial results of the Company in 2021, emphasizing that “another goal of ours is the implementation of our investment program, given the large price increases. “This is a danger we are all on to face.”

Mr. Sachinis referred to the signing of the new contract with the Greek State, which has retroactive effect from 1/1/2021 and which places the Company in a new regulatory framework under JM 135275/2017, Government Gazette 1751 / Β / 22 -5-2017 “Approval of general rules of costing and pricing of water services. Method and procedures for recovering the cost of water services in its various uses”.

The purpose of this JMC is to approve general rules for costing and pricing of water services for various uses, and rules and measures for improving these services, as well as defining the procedures and method of recovering the cost of these services, including environmental costs and of water resource costs.

In a letter, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, as the competent authority for the implementation of the general rules of costing and pricing of water services, informed the Company that an independent regulatory authority will be established for this purpose. This is a major reform with a timeline for the adoption of the relevant legislative framework by the end of 2022. The operation of the Authority will be based on Directive 2000/60 / EC, as it has been transposed into national law.

The same letter states that the validity of EYDAP tariffs is extended until the approval of the new tariffs.

Mr. Sachinis referred to the need for a new legislative regulation for a voluntary exit program in EYDAP which will be targeted and not general and that in 2021 the Company proceeded to hire 254 people.

New investments in energy

“EYDAP currently produces 48% of the energy it consumes. Our goal is to increase this percentage either with the installation of new photovoltaics (the installation of 40 MW is already planned) but also with the creation of a bioclimatic building in which “all the services of the company are housed”, stressed Mr. Sachinis.

Referring to the decision of the CoF, according to which although the sole shareholder of the Superfund is the Greek State, the fact that it does not directly maintain ownership control and the possibility of electing the majority of the Board of Directors of EYDAP, is considered unconstitutional, the Mr. Sachinis stressed that “there is currently no administrative gap in the company. We belong to the State and some initiatives are expected in May on this issue.”