January 9, 2026
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New auction announced in Greece for 600 MW for electricity for vulnerable households

The Greek government specified terms and conditions for participation in a new kind of renewable energy auction, covering both wind and solar energy.

The auction comes as part of the Apollo initiative, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable households across the country and fighting energy poverty. In total, 200 MW of solar plus batteries and 400 MW of wind will be auctioned.

Wind power projects of at least 60 kW may participate, with no limit set for photovoltaics. All applicants must have final connection terms from the distribution or transmission operator. Their remuneration will be based on a contract for difference (CfD). Investors can also gain a grant from European Union programs, the National Development Plan or other sources, according to the decree.

This will be a single-step static auction, with the offer price ceiling set at EUR 80 per MWh for wind projects and EUR 75 per MWh for photovoltaics with battery storage.

Equally important, the competition level is 40%, meaning that 60% of the offered capacity will be awarded up to a maximum of 600 MW. On top of that, at least three projects from different investors must participate in the process. Furthermore, no participant can apply for more than 25% of the total offered capacity, to ensure a level playing field.

Steep timeframe for selected projects

Concerning next steps, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAEWW or RAAEY) is expected to officially proclaim the auction in the next few weeks, before the end of January. The regulator will also specify the letter of guarantee investors will have to submit, as well as the rest of the details. The submission of offers is expected to last by the end of February.

The ministry said the construction of solar farms with batteries must be completed by the end of 2027, while wind farms need to come online by September 2028.

Consumers who will benefit from cheaper renewable electricity will be notified via their power suppliers about their eligibility.

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January 9, 2026
by in News

New auction announced in Greece for 600 MW for electricity for vulnerable households

The Greek government specified terms and conditions for participation in a new kind of renewable energy auction, covering both wind and solar energy.

The auction comes as part of the Apollo initiative, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable households across the country and fighting energy poverty. In total, 200 MW of solar plus batteries and 400 MW of wind will be auctioned.

Wind power projects of at least 60 kW may participate, with no limit set for photovoltaics. All applicants must have final connection terms from the distribution or transmission operator. Their remuneration will be based on a contract for difference (CfD). Investors can also gain a grant from European Union programs, the National Development Plan or other sources, according to the decree.

This will be a single-step static auction, with the offer price ceiling set at EUR 80 per MWh for wind projects and EUR 75 per MWh for photovoltaics with battery storage.

Equally important, the competition level is 40%, meaning that 60% of the offered capacity will be awarded up to a maximum of 600 MW. On top of that, at least three projects from different investors must participate in the process. Furthermore, no participant can apply for more than 25% of the total offered capacity, to ensure a level playing field.

Steep timeframe for selected projects

Concerning next steps, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAEWW or RAAEY) is expected to officially proclaim the auction in the next few weeks, before the end of January. The regulator will also specify the letter of guarantee investors will have to submit, as well as the rest of the details. The submission of offers is expected to last by the end of February.

The ministry said the construction of solar farms with batteries must be completed by the end of 2027, while wind farms need to come online by September 2028.

Consumers who will benefit from cheaper renewable electricity will be notified via their power suppliers about their eligibility.

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December 19, 2025
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Greek distribution operator slammed for wrongful power theft accusations

The Hellenic Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO or DEDDIE) has drawn severe criticism because of imposing fines for power theft in cases where no such wrongdoing took place.

Last year, HEDNO was asked by the government to step up its efforts to fight power theft, a major issue in the Greek market. In recent years, the phenomenon has worsened and is estimated to cost law-abiding consumers EUR 400 million per year. In 2022, 18% of the supplied energy was lost as a result of power theft or network losses in distribution. The number has remained high ever since.

However, the distribution system operator’s overzealous crews went over the top, fining consumers with thousands of euros, with little or no justification. In fact, there were cases where a drop in consumption as a result of irrelevant factors was considered power theft.

Households and businesses were obliged to pay, otherwise their supply would be cut off. Consequently, they must go to court to claim back the money, leading to a lengthy and costly process.

HEDNO fined by the regulator

The Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAEWW or RAAEY) has stepped in to fix the problem. Ruling on a specific consumer’s complaint against HEDNO, it determined that the operator acted illegally and against provisions set by the Metering Code.

In fact, RAAEY accused HEDNO of enforcing power theft rules that it wanted added in the code, but which the regulator has not accepted. Based on the ruling, HEDNO was fined EUR 120,000.

It remains to be seen whether RAAEY will impose more fines, as the receiver of many such complaints. The body said it is not responsible for solving disputes between the operator and consumers. However, through the recent ruling it set a proper regulatory framework going forward.

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December 16, 2025
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Greek authorities launch electricity market probe

The Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) and the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY or RAEWW) began a double probe into the Greek electricity market.

The move follows a report by the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) concerning the formation of wholesale prices during the period between July and September 2024.

The body focused on Greece, since it is the only country in the region of Southeast Europe for which detailed market data was available from the power exchange about the offers from producers and the supply-demand curves.

ACER has called national authorities to conduct a market probe to find out whether manipulation and capacity withholding took place during the hours with the most extreme prices.

In its announcement, HCC said it was looking into possible horizontal deals or harmonized practices between companies, with the goal of preventing, limiting or degrading competition. It is focusing especially on capacity withholding and dominant market position abuse. It explained, however, that the checks do not predetermine the outcome of the procedure.

RAAEY pointed out that the goal of its probe is to protect consumers and enforce the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT).

Investigation follows industry suggestions

According to Energypress, HCC conducted raids and collected data from three particular companies, namely Public Power Corporation (PPC), Heron and Enerwave (formerly Elpedison).

In fact, authorities are examining not just the three-month period of last year, but also market operations in 2025.

Industrial consumers in Greece have been claiming for the past year that there is manipulation in the market, leading to inflated prices. They have called for an investigation and interventions to restore transparency.

“ACER‘s findings are not compatible with normal market player behavior as part of the Target Model,” commented the Chairman of the Hellenic Union of Industrial Consumers of Energy (UNICEN), Antonis Kontoleon.

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November 17, 2025
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ACER asks Greek authorities to probe power market for manipulation

The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) is warning of signs of manipulation in Greece’s day-ahead electricity market (DAM) registered during the summer of 2024.

The region of Southeastern Europe experienced several months of high electricity prices, with average monthly levels close to EUR 200 per MWh in the case of Greece.

ACER used data from the Hellenic Energy Exchange (HEnEx) to calculate the hourly day-ahead demand and supply curves for the Greek bidding zone in the said period.

It included 93 observations, meaning 93 pairs of demand and supply curves, from June 15 to September 15 of last year.

Based on the above, four scenarios were formed, simulating and analyzing market conditions on different days and times. The baseline included all the cases and the clearing price was always above EUR 100 per MWh.

The so-called stressed scenario involved 17 observations, when prices climbed close to EUR 500 per MWh, and the critical scenario had two observations, with prices of EUR 900 per MWh.

There was even an extreme scenario,  covering September 4, when at 20:00 the price reached its maximum, with EUR 942 per MWh.

650 MWh would have made enormous difference

ACER noted that if an extra 650 MWh of energy were available during that hour, it would have reduced the price by a huge EUR 630 per MWh to EUR 311 per MWh.

The extra power could have arrived either internally from peak power plants, or through interconnections with neighboring countries.

The result is similar for the stressed scenario – 420 per MWh lower, and the baseline, when the level would have come in at 100 per MWh down from the actual prices.

Capacity withholding as a possible cause

The regulator added that during times of pressure in the system, the market power of producers became much more pronounced and their bidding behavior changed.

Based on the above, ACER reaches two conclusions. One, interconnections in the region must be utilized based on the 70% European rule to bring prices down.

Secondly, Greek authorities need to initiate a probe into whether market power was used to manipulate or abuse dominant positions, for example in the form of capacity withholding.

ACER also said data from HEnEx and the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY or RAEWW) are incomplete and that more transparency is necessary moving forward.

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September 16, 2025
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Nine times more licenses in Greece than grid capacity

Licensed renewable energy projects in Greece currently stand at about 90 GW. New submissions have been falling sharply.

According to latest data from the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY or RAEWW), a total of more than 110 GW has been licensed across all renewable technologies. Photovoltaics have the lion’s share, with 74.4 GW and wind followed with 25.1 GW.

The regulator has already paused or cancelled 41.8 GW of immature or frozen investments, bringing the active total to 76.9 GW. It includes 29.8 GW in wind farms and 44.8 GW in all types of solar.

There also also investments in renewables plus storage, which amount to about 24 GW at various stages. It means that now 92 GW of renewable electricity projects have permits. There is 15 GW in operation, 15 GW with final connection terms, and another 50 GW waiting in line after completing the first regulatory steps. The rest is still at the initial stage.

RAAEY also said available space in the grid is currently 19 GW and that is expected to reach 30 GW by 2030. Therefore, the ratio between potential projects and what the grid can accommodate is about nine to one.

Applications slow down to a trickle

The congestion has been noticed by investors, who have significantly slowed down their applications in recent years. RAAEY’s head of renewable energy and storage Ioannis Charalampidis recalled that in the licensing cycle of December 2020, projects representing 45.5 GW were submitted. This June they were only 1.2 GW.

It is especially evident in photovoltaics, where applications fell from 36.3 GW to some 50 MW. Wind is also affected, with 65% less capacity in submissions than last year

In addition to the large licensing queue, the sector faces delays and red tape. More than three years have passed since the last auction for subsidized renewables projects, from which about 1 GW has not yet been completed.

The sector raises red tape and competition issues

The issue was raised, at RAAEY’s conference last week, by Hellenic Wind Energy Association’s (HWEA or ELETAEN) General Director Panagiotis Papastamatiou. He said the problem lies with small local governing bodies, which either lack the means or the will to do their job properly. He called for centralization, so that one public body can handle the necessary permits.

POSPIEF: “Genocide” for smaller producers

The Hellenic Photovoltaics Union (POSPIEF), which represents small and medium solar investors, spoke of “genocide” in the sector. Chairman Giannis Panagis accused the government of only supporting large producers, leading to distortion of competition and a wave of smaller projects being abandoned or sold. He added that big players enjoy benefits, such as extensions, while small ones are pushed out of the market.

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May 20, 2025
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Alarming rise in unpaid bills from electricity consumers in Greece

A steep rise in arrears was recorded last year in the Greek electricity supply market.

According to the latest report from the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY or RAEWW), total debt for electricity rose by EUR 1 billion to EUR 3.4 billion in 2024.

It occurred despite a 10% reduction in retail electricity prices last year in the country.

Out of the total sum, existing customers owe EUR 1.74 billion to their suppliers. Another EUR 1.65 billion is debt by customers that have switched suppliers, leaving unpaid bills behind.

As for the EUR 1 billion of new debt, consumers in the mid-voltage account for EUR 400 million. They are large businesses and small industries. Another EUR 440 million is owed by various water utilities.

In December 2024, the Ministry of Environment and Energy passed a regulation subsidizing water utilities for EUR 200 million of their total debt. It means actual arrears in the segment were smaller, at EUR 240 million, but still sizeable.

Measures to reduce power theft

On top of increasing debt, the Greek market is also faced with a rise in electricity theft. In recent years, the phenomenon has worsened and is estimated to cost law-abiding consumers EUR 400 million per year.

The government and the regulator recently enacted strict fines to reduce theft. Offenders pay more than 100% over the normal power price for stolen quantities. The gradual installation of smart meters starting this year is also expected to help.

Suppliers warn of consequences

Power utilities must handle all the said liabilities. The Greek Energy Suppliers Association (ESPEN) has said that the issues indirectly increase power prices, as companies need to balance their budget through additional hedging and careful positioning.

ESPEN: Suffocating pressure as a result of high arrears

“The accumulation of large arrears causes suffocating pressure to the supply sector, raising prices and leading to negative effects for consumers,” it said.

Furthermore, suppliers asked the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO or DEDDIE) to waste no time in disconnecting consumers who owe money, in line with guidelines from the network code.

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