Information from all sides converges that the atmosphere at yesterday's meeting of government officials with the leaders of the EAC trade unions was very good and constructive and the suspension of the strike measures that were scheduled to start tomorrow morning came rather naturally and effortlessly.
The positive result of yesterday's meeting at the Presidential Palace confirms that the dialogue between the Government – EAC – trade unions was necessary and should have been launched earlier. And now it must be structured in order to become effective and have continuity.
It is also confirmed that CERA cannot continue to monitor from afar. After all, some of the issues raised yesterday by the trade unions to the Minister of Energy Michalis Damianos and the Deputy Minister to the President Irini Piki require the immediate involvement of the regulatory authority in order to be promoted, something that the government side has realized and it is certain that in the coming days it will seek contacts with the leadership of CERA, but also with co-competent ministries.
Yesterday's decision of the unions not to proceed with the very painful measures for consumers and the economy that they planned for tomorrow and the coming days was taken after the assurance of the minister and the deputy minister that all the suggestions of the employees will be thoroughly examined within the current fortnight, which are shared in their majority - if not all - by the management and management of the Electricity Authority and there will be a new meeting to take stock of the contacts that will take place.
The information of Fileleftheros states that the trade unionists came to the Presidential Palace yesterday acknowledging the Government's inability to ensure at this point in time that the gaps in electricity adequacy for the next 2-3 years can be addressed quickly, since just yesterday morning the Minister of Energy had recognized to the competent parliamentary committee that yes, There is a serious issue with sufficiency, which in order to be addressed, the goal of importing natural gas must be completed by 2030 and new generators must be operated in Dhekelia or Vasiliko as well as the storage systems. Actions that take time.
The unions submitted proposals to the two government officials for measures that will allow the EAC to significantly increase the production of electricity from photovoltaic parks and at the same time will allow it to conclude bilateral agreements with private producers of renewables, in order to ensure cheap electricity for the benefit of all its customers.
What will be examined
In particular, the information of Fileleftheros states that, among other things, the trade unions demanded (and it was not the first time):
-All the necessary actions should be taken with co-competent ministries and authorities and, if necessary, with the European Commission, so that a decision can be taken by the Government and CERA that the cost for the installation of the new generators in Dhekelia will be found a reliable way to be distributed to all electricity suppliers and by extension to all consumers. So that it does not burden only EAC Supply and its customers, since these are generators that have been deemed by everyone to be absolutely necessary for the stability of the system and the adequacy of electricity for all.
-A government decision should be taken to grant the EAC carpet land, so that it can install its own photovoltaic parks, with a production of cheap kilowatt hour (5-6 cents), in order to reduce the average price of its mixture. Significant areas of gravel land were received by many private EAC competitors in the recent past, without a commitment to sell electricity at cost-oriented prices. In the meantime, however, the legislation on the concession of carpet land has been changed by the Ministry of the Interior and now provides for the announcement of tenders. The unions objected yesterday that there is a legal way for the EAC to be able to participate in the tenders, without being forced to bid against private individuals, which in the end would lead to an increased kilowatt-hour charge.
-CERA should allow the EAC to sign bilateral contracts with private companies operating photovoltaic parks, so that EAC Prometheia can buy (as private electricity supply companies are allowed to do) cheap electricity from photovoltaic or wind farms, so that it can reduce the final price for its customers. -The reduction of the EAC wholesale price will also lead to a reduction in the wholesale price locked in the context of the competitive electricity market for several points of the 24-hour period, which will lead to an additional benefit for electricity consumers.
