The details of subjecting overdue debts from rural electricity connections to a 10-year arrangement with zero interest are described in a Joint Ministerial Decision (CMD).

This arrangement can be used by all electricity consumers with rural supply on 31.12.2023, including General and Local Organizations of Water Improvements (GOEB-TOEB), regardless of power and regardless of their membership in the “GAIA” tariff.

The MOU is signed by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Kostas Tsiaras, the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis and the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Thodoros Skylakakis, as well as the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Dionysis Stamenitis, the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Mr. Thanos Petralias and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou.

Terms and conditions

For the beneficiaries’ debts to be included in the zero interest arrangement, the following conditions must be met, in total:

  • There must be a debt for the supply of electricity for a period of consumption before December 31, 2023.
  • The amount of the debt that can be included in the arrangement with zero interest is the debt of the beneficiary that has been created from unpaid electricity consumption bills until December 31, 2023.

It is noted that the consumption bills must have been issued by the date of publication of this Decision.

The scope does not include debts from consumption accounts for the period from January 1, 2024 onwards.

  • The amount of the debt that can be included in the arrangement with zero interest should be greater than or equal to 100 euros.
  • That the beneficiary’s debt has not been included in the settlement of overdue debts of electricity consumers in areas affected by the floods of September 2023.

For holders of rural benefit connections regardless of strength, including GOEB-TOEB, included in the “GAIA” tariff, the first installment for repayment of overdue debts should be paid by 31 October 2024.

Regarding the installments related to the repayment of the total amount of the debt, they are equal to 120 monthly and cannot be less than 10 euros/month.

Upon the relevant request of the beneficiaries to the provider, the installments may be paid, aggregated, with two equal half-monthly payments until June 30 and until December 31 of each year.

In the event that the consumer does not pay three monthly installments or a six-monthly installment on time, he is excluded from the zero-interest debt arrangement and the calculated interest is borne by him. In any case, the debt must be repaid by 31.12.2034.

The interest rate for the beneficiary regarding the repayment of his debt is 0.00% for the period from the entry into force of the Decision until 31.12.2034.

Potential beneficiaries who fall under a regime for the granting of de minimis state aid, are informed by the electricity providers by 10.11.2024 about the amount of the interest charge subsidized herewith both per year, starting from the year 2025, as well as in total for the entire duration of the measure. Beneficiaries submit a Responsible Declaration (included in the Appendices of the Decision), digitally signed via gov.gr to the provider who represented their provision on 31.12.2023.

After the verification of the data by DEDDIE, the electricity providers representing the beneficiary inform him by any appropriate means of the amount of the aid, the fact that it is a de minimis aid and the EU grant basis, etc.

The validity of the CPA starts from its publication in the Government Gazette.