“It simply came to our notice then energy crisis, concrete and effective measures to support households and businesses. We took care throughout 2021 to strengthen them with subsidies and permanent measures. We will do the same for the whole of 2022 but also for as long as it is still needed “.
This was answered by KINAL, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas during the interrogation discussion that his executives had submitted for accuracy and notoriety.
At the same time, Mr. Skrekas rejected the accusations of the questioning MPs who attributed “complete inaction and inability of the government to face the effects of the energy crisis”, referring to general and talkative arguments of KINAL, without submitting proposals.
“You have blamed the government for its complete unworthiness. We have parties of protest, chatter and silence, we do not need any more. “What our country needs now are proposals”, Mr. Skrekas stated characteristically and added:
“You spoke of a tsunami of punctuality and profiteering, claiming that the government remained inactive. I heard a general chatter, without any specific proposal on what exactly the government should do, beyond the measures it has taken to support Greek households and how energy costs can be reduced in our country. “All I have heard from you and your leader is the reduction of the VAT on energy, which is at 6% and one of the lowest taxes in the EU. You are proposing something that is already valid in our country, that is.”
The Minister of Environment and Energy also accused KINAL of “invoking wrong data” and argued that Greece has the lowest average prices in the price of a kilowatt, unlike other European countries that have the highest average price.
“This proves that the energy crisis did not arise from the way the government is handling the problem but that it is an international crisis. “And Greece is not the most expensive country in retail energy prices among EU countries. In the first half of 2021 our country was 30% cheaper than all European countries in the price of a kilowatt”, underlined Mr. Skrekas.
“Since the beginning of the energy crisis, the government has taken substantial measures to support households and businesses,” he said, noting that “mainly for households it was horizontal with no income criteria.”
He also pointed out that “HEDNO has already proceeded with fast procedures in the reconnection of electricity, to households that are in a completely unfavorable position.
And Mr. Skrekas continued:
“In January, we supported more than 150,000 housewives and more than 130,000 businesses with subsidies.
We gave the farmers 50 million euros to cover retroactively 80% of the burden they had from the increase in energy prices.
More than 150,000 households will benefit by ensuring a reduction in energy through the powerful “Save” program to upgrade homes and buildings.
“Over 200,000 households will use a subsidy to replace their old energy-intensive appliances, refrigerators and air conditioners.”
“It is estimated that energy consumption will be reduced by 30% -70%. “Such programs will continue because it is the only way to deal with the effects of the international energy crisis,” said Mr. Skrekas.
He also noted that “HEDNO has already proceeded to the creation of an electronic platform and there are currently four distinct categories concerning investors, households, commercial consumers, farmers for the installation of autonomous low cost energy systems.”
“Are all these measures nothing to you who are talking about government inaction? Do you have anything more to tell us or will you do what SYRIZA says? ” he said, noting that all I heard was to reduce the already reduced VAT.
He accused KINAL that he has not submitted any proposal either in Greece or in the international forums he participates in:
“The inaction has nothing to do with the government but with KINAL which did not make any proposal either in Greece or internationally (…) But Greece is among the first two EU countries to submit concrete proposals and this was done by our government. It is the first country to be able to support businesses and households through the European Support Mechanism. What similar suggestions did you make? None “, he underlined and added:
“Greece was one of the first two countries to take measures to support them. Our country was the only one in the EU that created the special Energy Transition Fund and the Greek society supports the special RES account. An additional 1.7 billion has been given by January and by February most will reach two billion in proportion, to support households.
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