During the last months of 2013, a range of regulatory changes took place in renewable energy sector.
1. Law 4203/2013
This law amended already existing provisions and clarified previous legislation. For instance, it amended the terms under which the duration of an installation license may be extended. It is significant that if within the license’s duration an application of temporary connection (commencement of trial operation period) is not filed, then the production license is revoked. Furthermore, this law clarified vague provisions of the previous Law 4152/2013 on RES issues (eg when the letter of guarantee has to be submitted). Moreover, this law provides that some photovoltaic stations may still benefit of a higher Feed in Tariff. In case a PV Park of installed capacity more than 1MW has signed a PPA between 1.7.11 and 12.11.12 can still lock the FiT as in force the date when the PPA was signed or the complete file of application was filed (according to the applicable legislation when the PPA was signed) on the condition that the producer has declared the readiness of the PV Park within 18 or 36 months (if more than 10MW) from the date of the PPA’s execution.
2. Law 4223/2013: Suspension of Agreements for PV Stations
According to article 55 of this law, the execution of Connection Works Agreements and Power Purchase Agreements for PV stations is suspended again until 31.12.2014. The new suspension was not of much surprise, given the continuing deficit of RES Special Account by which producers are paid.
3. RAE’s Decision 663/30.12.2013: Increase of renewable energy due under conditions
As the elimination of RES’ Special Account deficit is a target that Greek Government has been committed to meet by the end of 2014, RAE expressed its will to increase the renewable energy due, the due that all consumers pay via electricity bills, reaching even a 157% increase for some categories of consumers. This increase shall take place after 01.03.2014 and only on the condition that other measures for the reduction of the deficit of LAGIE’s account have not been taken, eg a reduction of FiTs or the freezing of payments by LAGIE. Various opinions for such measures have been vastly discussed the last months as a new draft law (the “new deal”) is to be expected within January. For the time being, the question who shall bear the cost of LAGIE’s deficit (consumers or RES Producers) cannot be answered yet.