K. Skrekas: We can not absorb all the accuracy

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas, spoke on the MEGA weekend show about the accuracy that affects households, with the increases in energy creating an extremely difficult situation for thousands of households that find it difficult to respond. He revealed that the government is in discussions with PPC for someone who was in regulation and lost it, to be able to reorganize.

“It is a tragic reality. We have a huge energy crisis that is severely affecting households and businesses, and in terms of fuel for it and we are exhausting the budget to mitigate the situation as much as possible,” said Mr. Skrekas. commenting on the prices of a gas station in Naxos.

“We can not absorb all the precision”

“We have historically high gas and electricity prices in Europe and Greece, and one of the most expensive oil prices in the last 20 years. We subsidize the electricity bill to mitigate the increase as much as possible. There are not enough resources to absorb The increases are huge. They are in fuel, they are in energy, they are in electricity, they are in products, they are in basic necessities. All this a state cannot absorb. But it can do what we do. “Those who are even more vulnerable, we have doubled the heating allowance and there is also the social tariff where the subsidy is even higher. These are 560,000 households. For the rest we support horizontally with 40-50 euros per month with electricity subsidy”, he explained regarding the increases in energy.

It is ungrounded to “freeze” prices

Responding to the question of whether the opposition’s proposal to “freeze” PPC tariffs is possible, Mr. Skrekas said: “If PPC” freezes “tariffs, how will the consumer buy the much more expensive natural gas or imported energy? To say that it will “freeze” prices is simply unfounded, but PPC or any provider can be pressured and give all the profits, maybe it will have some losses. PPC is already doing that. over € 300 million in the last half of 2021, and another € 300 million in the first quarter of 2022 “.

“PPC has announced settlements that reach up to 36 months”

“Unfortunately, you can not” freeze “prices with a law. If it were, all countries would do it. These things are unfounded and it is dangerous to hear them. But because the problem is big, we proceed with electricity subsidies that in some cases reach up to 80%, PPC has announced arrangements that can reach up to 36 months, and we control the market to prevent unfair commercial practices, and to push prices down, “he added.

“We are discussing with PPC someone who was in regulation and lost it so that he can reorganize”

“We are already discussing with PPC that someone who was in regulation can reorganize when he does not comply with his previous regulation. Businesses are facing a big problem, and not only large companies, the turnover in the market has also fallen. We are discussing with PPC these companies can be re-regulated, PPC is expected to make the relevant decisions.The installments are up to 36, in which the overdue debt can be repaid.And we subsidize 65 euros from January 1. Greece is the only country that took permission to support businesses in January 2022 “, revealed Mr. Skrekas.

“Greece is among the 7 cheapest European markets in the retail energy price”

“The picture is difficult, but at the moment Greece is among the 7 cheapest European markets in terms of retail energy price. We give the most money in proportion to our population and economy,” he noted.

Withdrawal of electronic devices

Speaking about when the platform for the withdrawal of old electrical appliances is expected to open, Mr. Skrekas said: “The subsidy will be given 100 million euros, for 200,000 households, with a subsidy amount of 30-50%. We have set social criteria , economic criteria, ie families with many children, single parents, or who have a member with a disability will have a higher subsidy.The appliances that will be replaced will be air conditioners, refrigerators or freezers. We want to replace the old appliances that are more energy efficient with new and efficient ones. We found that consumption can be reduced by up to 30-40% per year. The electronic platform for 200,000 households will be opened near Easter in the first place “.

“For the beneficiaries of the social tariff, we have given an order not to cut off the electricity, we also have the number 15902, the energy solidarity telephone line, where he calls a household and reconnects its electricity and pays for its reconnection to the state”, clarified Mr. Σκρέκας.

Finally, answering whether the reduction of the excise tax is expected, Mr. Skrekas said that “The excise tax on natural gas is one euro, we subsidize with 40 euros. In electricity it is 5 euros, we subsidize with 150 euros per megawatt hour”.