Ministry of Environment and Energy is expected to launch a public consultation during the week, presenting a draft legislation for the reform of the retail market in natural gas, with the abolition of the monopoly of local PSC to supply the consumers.
This bill, which will later be submitted to Parliament, will contain details for the separation of network management and marketing of the three gas companies (Attica, Thessaloniki and Thessaly). The three PSC will have until the 1st of July 2015 to ‘break’ in half, losing the so far monopoly.
More specifically, the main aim of changing is, for consumers to have the option of choosing a different supplier rather than gas distribution companies which up to date have the monopoly, while networks will be separated of the commercial operation. In return, for the early elimination of monopoly right, the temporal or geographical extension of contracts for the operation of the network, is been examined.
Based to the Memorandum, the separation must be concluded by the end of 2015, so the way for the entry of new suppliers in the market is cleared.
The Greek government according to Troika requirements, must institute provisions for the gradual release of all gas customers until the 01.01.2017, which is the date that domestic customers of the three PSC will be fully liberalized .