The main axes of water pricing and management were developed by the Deputy Minister of Interior, Stelios Petsas, in his greeting at the 31st Ordinary General Assembly of the Association of Municipal Water-Sewerage Companies (EDEYA).
“The major issue of water pricing starts with undercutting,” the deputy interior minister said, adding that the issue should be addressed under the threefold principle: charges – certificates – receivables.
Mr. Petsas characterized the issue of network management as a top priority, but also the necessary investments that need to be made. “Network, investments, leaks, certification and collection are very basic elements, which we must not ignore. “And we should not focus only on short-term management,” he said. Minister of the Interior.
Referring to the financial tools that the Local Government has – for the first time after almost ten years of financial crisis – for serious investments in the water supply and sewerage networks, he stated that the relevant invitations to the “Antonis Tritsis” Program amount to over 650 million euros.
He stated that in order to cover the needs of all the municipalities – which are multiple – synergies have already been developed with other financial tools, so that projects that have been included in “Antonis Tritsis” can be transferred to other Programs. In fact, as Mr. Petsas announced, the transfer of water supply projects – amounting to 222 million euros – to YMEPERAA has already been agreed, a fact which means that the financial file of “Antonis Tritsis” for water supply projects, which in otherwise they could not be funded by the Program “.
At the same time, it announced similar synergies with the Recovery Fund – especially for rural road construction projects – which, in turn, will “free up” additional space in the Program for water supply and sewerage projects.
“What is needed, above all, is a good spirit of cooperation. We increase the file of “Antonis Tritsis” by 222 million euros immediately, by 225 million euros next year and by an additional 500 million euros, with the increase that we provide in the Program on overbooking. In other words, we are doing everything we can to increase the fiscal space to cover your own projects “, said the Deputy Minister of Interior, emphasizing the importance for mature proposals and rapid absorption of funds.
Mr. Petsas called on the municipal authorities to intensify their efforts on the issue of certificates and receivables. On the issue of management, he addressed the issue of administrative structure. “A scheme that has been in operation for forty-one years always needs improvement, renewal and adjustment to move forward,” he said, noting that “our concern is to see what the optimal scheme is in order to achieve the investments we need.” “Because it is a shame – with so many water resources in our country – that we do not have enough water to supply our cities and villages. Because it is a shame not to have proper sewerage networks in the 21st century, even in the flagships of Greek tourism, such as Mykonos in the summer. “Personally, I am not going to remain apathetic and allow such images to be repeated,” he said. Minister of the Interior.
Referring to the network of measures on the table, so that the increases in energy costs are not passed on to water utility bills and increase municipal fees, Mr. Petsas stressed that there will be announcements at the end of next week, especially regarding reduction of the VAT rate to 6% and the issue of the adjustment clause. “In our estimation, this is a temporary phenomenon, which is related to the imported crisis caused by the appreciation of energy costs. And for this reason, our intervention will have temporary features, possibly over a semester. It’s something we’ve been discussing all this time with the finance staff. The government is acting as a whole “, said Mr. Petsas.
As for the request for reduction of the tariff of the municipal enterprises through their inclusion in the tariff of the “big consumers”, instead of the household tariff as is the case today, the Deputy Minister of Interior noted: “Municipal enterprises are also enterprises. Therefore, the treatment must be uniform. And, here, know that you have an ally for the rationalization of the invoice on a permanent basis “.
Finally, Mr. Petsas was in favor of a new debt settlement, a discussion that -as he said- should be held in consultation with the financial staff, in the near future. “I am clearly in favor of the regulations. If you want to collect, arrange. A proper regulatory framework is one that will allow the good payer to continue to pay and the one who has problems, to be able to cope with them “, he pointed out and praised the good cooperation that has been developed all this time with both grades Local Government.
“Our goal is to go -together- forward and make the daily life of the citizens better. We are discussing together, we are cooperating and I am sure that in your next General Assembly we will see your companies and your Union stronger “, concluded the Deputy Minister of Interior.
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