ECONOMY

Renewable energy levy soars 118 pct

Consumers are bracing for a fresh hike in electricity bills after the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) announced on Saturday that the levy for power production from renewable energy sources, payable by every consumer, will go up by 54 euros per household per year.

The average level of the RES levy is will climb from 9.3 euros per megawatt/hour in the first half of the year to 14.96 euros/MWh, which constitutes an average increase of 60 percent. For average household consumers (of 400 KWh per month), the hike will be from 9.53 to 20.80 euros/MWh, i.e. an increase of 118 percent. In contrast, industries who get their power from the high-voltage network will see a reduction in the levy they pay.

RAE claims that the adjustment of the RES levy arises from problems in the process of incorporating various RES technologies in the country’s energy system and mostly the huge penetration of photovoltaic systems. It does, however, also call on all parties involved in drafting rates and regulations to find alternative solutions that will not further burden consumers.

Energy Ministry sources say that the average cost of RES production is two-and-a-half times higher than from conventional sources.

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