Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis on Wednesday announced that all households will receive subsidies for their electricity bills in August, with a consumption limit of 500 kilowatt hours per month. The amount of the subsidy will depend on the level of August tariffs (known as the "green" tariffs that are announced at the beginning each month) with the aim of keeping prices "at tolerable levels."
The subsidies will be financed via an extraordinary levy on natural gas, imposed on power producers.
More specifically, it was decided:
1. Reinstatement of the tax on electricity production using natural gas that was in effect during the energy crisis, for at least two months (July and August). Its size will be determined in the coming days.
2. Subsidy of household tariffs (including social tariffs) for August, the amount of which will be finalised when wholesale prices and August tariffs are finalised. The subsidy will is for household consumers with floating-rate electricity plans (green and yellow bills) and consumptions of up to 500 kilowatt hours per month and the aim will be to maintain prices at the 2023 level.
3. Establishment of provisions for the possibility of price interventions in cases of market distortions.
4. For businesses, it was decided not to refund the debts from the Special Duty for the Reduction of Air Pollutant Emissions (ETMEAR), estimated at 138 million euros.
5. Farmers will also benefit from the Special Duty for the Reduction of Air Pollutant Emissions (ETMEAR).
"It must be made clear that when there is a need, the government intervenes to help consumers by exhausting the margins. We will not leave consumers unprotected," Skylakakis emphasised.