Βράβευση του Προέδρου της ΡΑΕ

Το βραβείο «ΗΑΕΕ Annual Award for long-standing contribution towards a decarbonized, liberalized and competitive Greek energy sector» έλαβε την Πέμπτη 22 Σεπτεμβρίου 2022 ο Πρόεδρος της Ρυθμιστικής Αρχής Ενέργειας, Αναπλ. Καθ. Αθανάσιος Δαγούμας από την Ελληνική Εταιρεία Ενεργειακής Οικονομίας (ΗΑΕΕ) στο πλαίσιο της 17^ης Ευρωπαϊκής Ενεργειακής Διάσκεψης με τίτλο «Το μέλλον των παγκόσμιων ενεργειακών συστημάτων» που διεξήχθη στην Αθήνα από τις 21 έως τις 24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2022.

Το βραβείο απένειμε η Γενική Γραμματέας Ενέργειας και Φυσικών Πόρων κα Αλεξάνδρα Σδούκου.

Ο κ. Δαγούμας ευχαρίστησε θερμά την ΗΑΕΕ για το βραβείο και τόνισε μεταξύ άλλων στην ομιλία του:

«Το θέμα του φετινού συνεδρίου αντικατοπτρίζει την αγωνία όλων μας για το τι μέλλει γενέσθαι και, ειδικότερα, την αγωνία όσων ασχολούμαστε με τον τομέα της ενέργειας ως καθηγητές, ως ρυθμιστές, ως εμπειρογνώμονες και ως ενδιαφερόμενοι φορείς, να βρούμε απαντήσεις και λύσεις σε μία εποχή πρωτοφανών προκλήσεων για την ενέργεια. Στην Ευρώπη, η οποία βιώνει ασύμμετρα τις επιπτώσεις της ενεργειακής κρίσης, διαμορφώνεται ένα νέο πλαίσιο ευρωπαϊκής ενεργειακής πολιτικής,  προσπαθώντας να εξισορροπήσει τη βραχυπρόθεσμη ασφάλεια εφοδιασμού και τις αυξημένες ενεργειακές τιμές με τη μακροπρόθεσμη ενεργειακή μετάβαση.»

Ανέδειξε τη συμβολή της ΡΑΕ:

«Συμβάλουμε με ιδέες και τεκμηριωμένες προτάσεις. Η Ρυθμιστική Αρχή Ενέργειας υποστήριξε το Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας για την αντιμετώπιση της ενεργειακής κρίσης εντός της Ελλάδας, συμβάλλοντας με τεκμηριωμένα στοιχεία στην υιοθέτηση της εκ των υστέρων (ex post) φορολόγησης των «υπερκερδών» και τη μετάβαση στην εκ των προτέρων (ex ante) επιβολή ανώτατου ορίου εσόδων των παραγωγών. Παράλληλα, η ΡΑΕ είναι ενεργός παράγοντας επιρροής της Ευρωπαϊκής Ρυθμιστικής πολιτικής, συμμετέχοντας με τεκμηριωμένες προτάσεις στις συνεδριάσεις του ACER. Η Ευρώπη χρειάζεται ηγεσία σε διάφορα επίπεδα λήψης αποφάσεων.»

Τέλος τόνισε ότι:

«Για το 2022/23, εκτός από τα θέματα ασφάλειας του εφοδιασμού που βρίσκονται στο προσκήνιο αυτόν τον χειμώνα, στις προτεραιότητες μας είναι η επιτάχυνση της ενεργειακής μετάβασης και η περαιτέρω ενίσχυση της προστασίας των καταναλωτών.»

Γραφείο Τύπου ΡΑΕ

Η ομιλία του Προέδρου της ΡΑΕ κατά τη βράβευση

Καλησπέρα σας,

It is a special honor for me to receive the Annual Award of the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics as a Professor in Energy Economics and as the President of the Hellenic Regulatory Authority for Energy and I thank you very much for it.

The Hellenic Association for Energy Economics continuously provides forums for fruitful discussions contributing significantly to an open dialogue on energy.

This year, the theme of the conference, “The Future of Global Energy Systems”, reflects everyone’s anxiety for what is ahead of us and – for those of us that are expected to lead the way, as professors, as regulators, as experts and stakeholders – the agony to find answers and solutions in a time of unprecedented challenges for the energy sector.

The current energy crisis, which also includes geopolitical aspects, has already begun to be characterized internationally as the biggest in the last 50 years, after the oil crises of the 1970s.

In Europe, which is experiencing the effects of the energy crisis asymmetrically, a new European energy policy framework is being formed. However, it still struggles to balance the short-term security of supply with the imminent energy poverty and the long-term energy transition.

We don’t have of course all the answers, but we have ideas and concrete proposals. We need to step up. RAE supported the Ministry of Energy on tacking energy crisis within Greece, moving with justified evidence from ex-post Revenue Taxation to ex-ante Revenue Cap. At the same time, RAE fights on becoming an active influencer of the European Regulatory policy. Yesterday, I participated in ACER BoR meeting with proposals, not just in theory, but based on data and European-wide simulations of the European electricity market. I had done the same a few months ago, fighting to convince north-Europeans that a temporary relief valve and an ex-ante power mitigation must be part of the solution. Now they are willing to open discussion on Market Design on the European Target Model. We also proposed to tackle the root cause of the crisis, through forming a European Index for natural gas spot transactions, allowing transactions only with physical delivery, which is expected to reveal actual natural gas prices, reducing potential speculation. Europe needs leadership, at different levels of decision-making progress. We are ready for this role.

The Regulatory Authority for Energy is called upon to contribute to short and long term through the initiation of the required reforms. We already act on this basis in four main pillars:

• 1. Enhancing energy security: Being the competent Authority, we are the first MS to update the Preventive Actions and Emergency Action Plans for gas and electricity sectors. We have granted licenses for the development of natural gas facilities (FSRU/FSU) in Alexandropolis, Corinthos, Volos, Thessaloniki and Revithousa. In addition, we have issued the pricing regulation of the Underground Storage of Kavala. We certified the IGGB AD company that manages the Greece-Bulgaria Natural Gas Interconnection Pipeline IGB as ITO and we are working to conclude all issues for its commercial operation on October 1st. We have approved the terms for the Market Test for the Greece-North Macedonia Natural Gas Interconnection Pipeline.
• 2. Enhancing market integration and competition, through implementing market reforms in the wholesale markets, developing also a very robust Market Monitoring and Surveillance Mechanism. We started with the wholesale market, and we continue with a detailed tool for the retail market. I am confident that we will be the best NRA in Europe in market monitoring.
• 3. Facilitating energy transition: We have simplified and accelerated the RES and Storage licensing process through the digital transformation of the Registry. Renewable energy is the permanent solution to the current energy crisis, together of course with the energy savings/efficiency, as first priority. Greece should aim to become a net exporter of green energy and, therefore, it needs to fully exploit its renewable’s potential.
• 4. Protecting and empowering final consumers, through: i.Increasing transparency, as we issued templates that retailers should follow towards enhancing transparency in their bills and contract types ii. Playing an active supervisory role, as we have about 40 open hearing cases on retailers for potential penalties iii. Developing a Price Comparison Tool (energycost.gr): where the consumer can study and compare the energy products available in the market, and iv. Developing an online complaints platform my.rae.gr: where consumers can directly contact the Suppliers or the Administrators for clarifications and/or complaints or other issues (counter, connection etc) in the most transparent and institutional way. We are now extending this tool to elaborate Online Arbitration among consumers and retailers and network operators.

For 2022/23, besides the security of supply issues that are in the forefront this winter, the priorities are the acceleration of energy transition and the further strengthening the consumers protection.

In closing, I would like to note again that the crisis requires the redesign of the energy transition. The latter also requires a pivotal role for the Regulator. The Greek Regulatory Authority for Energy undertakes its role with full responsibility and conscientiousness and serves the public interest with integrity and efficiency, for the benefit of consumers and the national economy. We are aiming to further enhancing our capabilities towards becoming an active influencer of the European Regulatory policy through our participation in ACER and regional institutions.

With this, I would like to thank you again very much for this honorary award as a Professor and as the President of the Hellenic Regulatory Authority for Energy.