The amendment for farmers and cheaper electricity included in fundraising bill to be voted on Thursday to the National Delegation. The amendment is expected to be voted on on Thursday.

With the amendment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, absolute priority is given to connection to the grid for Renewable Energy Sources (RES) projects intended for the bilateral contracts for the supply of electricity to farmers and industry.

What is provided for in the amendment?

With the amendment absolute network connection priority is given in the bilateral contracts for the supply of electricity to farmers and industry, thereby bringing changes to the prioritization set by the relevant Ministerial Decision of August 2022. The existing restrictions on the injection of electricity into the network (28%) will apply to these projects.

In particular, case of farmers, suppliers draw up contracts with a minimum duration of ten yearsa period of two months from the announcement of the features of the “GAA Tariff” offered to the owners of rural electricity connections.

Alongside, undertake to pay overdue debts to a previous supplier of the owners in question until December 31, 2023 and are substituted for the rights of the previous supplier, while the bilateral contract defines the consequences in case of termination before the contract expires.

Also, the supporting documents are defined that must be submitted by the owners of RES projects and regulate issues of management of RES projects, inclusion criteria, the geographical distribution of the projects and the procedure for regulating overdue debts.

The amendment also states about farmers, that those who have unpaid debts for consumption until December 31, 2023 can be subject to an arrangement with zero interest, as the State will bear the interest burden, providing a subsidy to the provider.

Also, with KYA, the beneficiaries, the conditions, the obligations of the suppliers and the interest charge for the settlement of overdue debts will be specified.

“Absolute network connection priority”

The Minister of Rural Development and Food, Lefteris Avgenakiswho co-signed the amendment, stated that “the initiative of the Minister of Energy and Environment, Theodorou Skylakakis to promote the amendment giving absolute priority to grid connection and Renewable Energy Sources (RES) projects intended for the bilateral contracts for the supply of electricity to farmers and industry, once again proves the consistency of the government.

We immediately implement what we commit to do. Much more so when our commitments concern farmers, whom we support in every possible way, in order to face the effects of the climate and energy crisis, which have caused an increase in production costs.

Farmers must take advantage of the possibilities offered to them by the government, and achieve a significant reduction in the energy costs of their production.

Once again it is proven in practice that for the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the primary sector is a priorityas it is a key pillar of support for our economy and the social cohesion of our country”.