A permanent mechanism to deal with extraordinary and unjustified increases in wholesale electricity prices in the Balkans and Greece is being promoted by the government to block the transfer of charges to retail prices.

The intervention is being planned in collaboration with the Commission, and if wholesale prices do not fall in the next few days, it could be implemented even from December. In contrast to the subsidies which were limited in the summer months only to households, the intervention will concern all electricity consumers giving breathing space to businesses as well, as this time, this “permanent cutter” will concern everyone, every legal and natural person with meter.

It is noted that in recent days the increase in electricity prices has been explosive. Yesterday Wednesday the wholesale price shot up to 202 euros per megawatt hour, while at the end of last week wholesale prices were hovering around 100 euros.

In his statements earlier today, the Minister of Energy and Environment, Theodoros Skylakakis, referring to the high electricity prices, said that “the phenomenon is under negotiation with the Commission, in order to have a mechanism to protect SE Europe from the appearance of such high prices”.

“This phenomenon of the last three days, reminiscent of last summer, is completely absurd and requires an immediate reaction,” added Mr. Skylakakis.

“There needs to be a mechanism so that wholesale malfunctions are not allowed to pass through to the retail market. I see that there is great momentum in our initiative and, one way or another, they will not be allowed to pass to the consumer,” the minister stressed.

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis on Thursday essentially referred to the decisions taken during the first phase of the regional energy crisis. Citizens will not pay, a possible wholesale increase in retail, and the state will not allow some to profit at the expense of citizens, clarified the government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, confirming the possibility of repeating the same policy in the current phase if the high wholesale prices translate in additional burdens for households.