Small power suppliers eye PPC’s market share
There is significant activity in the retail electricity market ahead of a final decision on the reduction of Public Power Corporation’s (PPC) market share by 25 percent until 2018 and by 50 percent until 2020.
Aiming at turnover of more than 1 billion euros a year, private investors already positioned in the market are taking more decisive steps by seeking shares from the major pie of domestic consumers, while new players are also rushing to stake a claim. Hellenic Post is a major contender after announcing last week that it will apply for a license at the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE), making the most of its network of 1,500 post offices across the country.
There are 26 companies that are licensed for some 6,500 megawatts, but only seven are now active in the market: The three integrated energy groups of Elpedison, Protergia and Heron Energy, along with four independent companies – Green, Volteria, Watt+Volt, and NRG.
The total share of the alternative power suppliers came to 5.7 percent in end-September, while their rates are cheaper than those of PPC by 8 to 12 percent, depending on the company and the pricing category. Their main competition field is the medium-voltage market, which concerns commercial and industrial customers.
