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Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said the new programmes would simplify procedures, reduce bureaucracy and speed up implementation, while giving households and businesses greater control over their energy costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want a home not only to need less energy, but also to be able to produce and use more of its own,\u201d Papastavrou said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, energy democracy means enabling more citizens to produce their own energy, reduce their bills and gain greater control over their energy costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The minister outlined government measures aimed at reducing electricity prices by 30 per cent over three years. He stressed that the government does not intend to rely on temporary subsidies, but instead plans to address the structural causes of Greece\u2019s high energy costs.<\/p>\n
Six pillars for lower energy costs<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Papastavrou said the government\u2019s strategy rests on six main areas: expanding renewable energy sources under clear rules, accelerating energy storage and electricity interconnections, tackling electricity theft and overdue debts, increasing flexibility in consumption, investing in energy efficiency and strengthening self-generation by households and businesses.<\/p>\n Greece has invested heavily in renewable energy, electricity networks and interconnections. As a result, installed renewable energy capacity has almost tripled over the past seven years.<\/p>\n The next step, Papastavrou said, is to turn that energy advantage into a direct economic benefit for households and businesses.<\/p>\n The government is also prioritising electricity interconnections for the islands, which should reduce the cost of Public Service Obligations (PSO), while the installation of smart meters will help authorities tackle electricity theft more effectively.<\/p>\n Social Climate Fund to support vulnerable households<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The Social Climate Fund will also play a central role in the government\u2019s plans for a socially fair energy transition.<\/p>\n Greece will have access to \u20ac2.1 billion through the fund, with \u20ac1.7 billion directed towards upgrading homes and replacing heating systems.<\/p>\n The government also plans to provide free Energy Performance Certificates to around 200,000 households and strengthen the heating allowance for 780,000 beneficiaries each year.<\/p>\n One-stop shops will also provide vulnerable households and small businesses with easier access to information and guidance.<\/p>\n Self-consumption at the heart of new policy<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Self-consumption will form a central part of the government\u2019s strategy to reduce energy costs.<\/p>\n The aim is for households and businesses to generate, consume and store their own electricity, reducing their exposure to market fluctuations and making energy costs more predictable.<\/p>\n Under the new framework, which the government plans to announce soon, authorities will simplify procedures and expand participation opportunities to make self-consumption more accessible.<\/p>\n The government will also strengthen energy storage options and provide compensation for surplus electricity fed into the grid.<\/p>\n Changes coming to Exoikonomo<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Papastavrou said Greece had successfully completed a major investment cycle through the Recovery Fund, including the country\u2019s largest energy-efficiency upgrade programme.<\/p>\n The programme allocated \u20ac1.6 billion to 260,000 beneficiaries, while more than 99,000 citizens benefited specifically from the Exoikonomo programmes.<\/p>\n The experience will inform a new generation of programmes with less bureaucracy, simpler procedures and faster implementation.<\/p>\n The new approach will focus on substantial energy upgrades to homes while linking energy savings with self-generation, storage and self-consumption.<\/p>\n Emergency measures remain possible<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Papastavrou said the government continues to monitor developments in the energy market and remains ready to intervene with targeted measures if necessary to support consumers.<\/p>\n However, he stressed that the broader strategy focuses on permanent structural changes designed to reduce energy costs over the long term rather than relying primarily on temporary relief measures.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n