The unveiling is just around the corner
The activation of the possibility of switching to a new electricity supplier, without the slightest exchange of physical or digital documents, through the integration of the process in the Gov.gr wallet, is in the final stage. The new tool is currently being developed by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Digital Governance, and is expected to be officially unveiled by March at the latest.
As Insider.gr has written, with the launch of the tool, those who wish to switch to a new provider will only need to give approval to the company to draw once from their "digital wallet" as much personal data as necessary for the conclusion of the electricity supply contract, and the process will be completed without having to send any supporting documents.
So if someone wants to change supplier, they would simply contact that company to agree on the tariff they are going to contract on. They will then receive a notification in their 'digital wallet', informing them of the information necessary for the contract that the company needs to draw on. The consumer's consent will also have the role of a digital signature, which means that clicking on it will complete the whole process.
A catalyst to enhance competition
The ease of switching to a new supplier creates the conditions to enhance mobility in retail electricity, as switching supplier can now be done without the slightest bureaucracy. In turn, the ease of signing a contract with a new company is expected to increase competition in the market, as a competitive commercial policy is more likely to "translate" into a stronger customer base.
Facilitating mobility comes at a time when the majority of households and businesses are still on "green" tariffs, with no change in 2025 in the "architecture" or other parameters governing them. A feature of green tariffs, like the also variable 'yellow' tariffs, is that consumers on green tariffs can opt out at any time, without any kind of financial penalty.
As Insider.gr has written, already since the autumn, the main current of movement involves the "shift" to fixed ("blue") tariffs, as many consumers seek to shield themselves from the ups and downs of wholesale electricity and, consequently, floating contracts. Therefore, simplifying the contracting process can further strengthen this stream.
State intervention to promote blue tariffs
It is recalled that the provision of fixed tariffs 'translates' into an economic risk for suppliers, which is hedged by suppliers through financial derivatives (hedging). This is why the blue tariffs include an early termination clause in case the customer wants to terminate the contract before its expiry.
As high-ranking officials of the Ministry of the Environment point out, the shift to fixed products could only be gradual, as otherwise the providers would have to 'lock in' very large quantities of electricity in order to cover their customer base. However, as the same executives add, based on the dynamics developing in the retail market, it will take about 5 years for blue tariffs to gain significant "critical mass" in the domestic retail market.
In this context, the Ministry considers that there should be state intervention measures to promote fixed-rate products. These measures are currently in the planning phase and are to be announced in due course.
The ministry sources also confirm the "end titles" of blue tariffs with a duration of less than 12 months. In practice, this means that from now on any contract with a fixed charge of less than one year offered to new customers will be categorised as mixed contracts ("yellow") and will not include an early termination clause.
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