State electrical company DEI’s 7.5 million customers are in for a surprise in October, as they will see their power bill increase. The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change will submit a regulation regarding utilities and payments. At present the cost of every 1,000 kWh of electricity cost between 6.99 to 44.8 euros, depending on the customer’s tariff and degree of consumption. The increase is rumored to be up to 25% in certain cases, in order to cover DEI’s increased utility costs.
The cost of DEI’s utilities amounted to 670 million euros in 2011; however the cost increased to 842 and 850 million euros in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The increases were attributed to the increased demand for oil (which is the main fuel source for DEI’s stations on the islands) and the significant increase of customers getting of the social tariff.
The highest utilities cost came from providing electricity fort the islands that are not connected on DEI’s power grin, costing 784 and 771 million euros in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Crete was by far the most expensive island, with local customers having to pay 415.6 and 388.6 million euros in 2012 and 2013. Connecting Crete to the main power grid would require about 1-to-1.5 billion euros, meaning that the cost could be offset within 3 or 4 years!
On Wednesday state power transmission operator ADMIE will sign a number of deals to provide the underwater electrical connection of the Cycladic islands with the main power grid via Lavrio. The connection has been discussed for over 20 years and is expected to be complete in 2017, thus rendering the oil-power power plants obsolete. The investment has been budgeted at 240 million euros, while the annual costs at present are about 64 million euros.
