Filenews 27 April 2025 - by Chrysanthos Manoli
Information from competent sources in the energy sector converges on the assessment that this time the operation of the competitive electricity market will not be postponed. Although not everything is ready, not even at a completely satisfactory level, there is optimism that within the second half of 2025 the competitive market will be put into operation.
What is not clear today is whether the premiere of the electricity market will take place during the summer months or whether it will be left for the autumn.
The decision on the exact timing of the start of operation of the electricity market, on the basis of the EU Target Model, will be taken by CERA. Which already evaluates all the data put before it by the Transmission System Operator and in particular the Market Operator. There is no reliable information on CERA's level of satisfaction with the development of the third - and apparently the last - trial period for the implementation of this model.
However, information from other sources indicates that the third evaluation report of the current trial period has already been prepared by the Market Officer and its processing by CERA is pending. The same sources report that during the third trial period, significant progress was found in all parameters of "virtual" market operation. Progress is mainly found in the management of the software for processing transactions, other equipment, but also in the behaviour of suppliers and producers involved in testing the system.
On the other hand, the Transmission Operator and CERA are concerned by the fact that several private photovoltaic producers, who participate in the Transitional Regulation, are still "snobbish" on the trial implementation of the system. The information of the Liberal Party states that the producers who remain outside have photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of about 200 megawatts. Strength that is important and necessary to draw safe conclusions for the smooth functioning of the market under normal conditions.
These producers will sooner or later be forced to join the trial phase, either autonomously or through collective representation bodies, like many other small producers. If they do not do so, they will be placed outside the competitive market, but also outside the existing Transitional Arrangement, which will be abolished on the day before the start of the competitive market. And producers who will not be included in the new system of electricity production and supply will not have the right to produce.
Another outstanding issue that concerns the energy authorities is the delay observed in the registration of banking institutions in the CSE, for the provision of transaction processing services for the sale and supply of electricity under Target Model conditions (Settlement Banks), but also for the granting of guarantees (General Clearing Members) for the reliable participation of energy "players" in the competitive market. The concession of clearing services (guarantees) can also be provided to their companies by the participants themselves (Direct Clearing Members) if they meet the criteria.
Interest was expressed by four banks in terms of processing payments and only one (Eurobank Greece) in granting guarantees to market participants. However, their registration in the CSE is pending, which is necessary for the removal of the pending.
