Universal Service Provider

Protergia has been designated as a Universal Service Provider since 21/06/2022 in accordance with the Ministerial Decision ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΗΕ/633233/2187/21.06.2022, ‘Designation of electricity Universal Service providers’. A Universal Service Provider is required (under Law 4001/2011, Government Gazette A΄ 179/22.08.2011) to supply electricity to households and small enterprises with a supply power of up to 25 kVA that are no longer represented by a power supplier and have been inactive regarding the right to free choice of supplier or are unable to find a supplier in the deregulated market under existing commercial conditions. 

The Universal Service shall be provided for a period of two (2) years starting from the date of undertaking the commitment, by virtue of a decision by the Minister of Environment, issued by virtue of the first subparagraph of paragraph 5 of article 58, L. 4001/2011, as in force.

A customer is automatically subject to the Universal Service Provider upon termination of representation by the last supplier or upon the expiry of the period of electricity supply in last resort status and if there is no mandate for new representation by a supplier or no request for connection discontinuation by the customer, in accordance with the law, without requiring any action on behalf of the subscriber, i.e. without requiring the signing of a contract and the payment of a guarantee. At any time the consumer so wishes, a Supply Contract may be concluded with a Supplier of the customer's preference.

Pursuant to para. 1 and 1A of article 58, L. 4001/2011, the electricity supply under the the Universal Service regime is carried out indefinitely, if the customer who was subject to the Universal Service regime duly pays the bills issued to the Universal Service Provider. In case of failure by the customer to pay bills properly to the Universal Service Provider, the maximum period of being subject to the Universal Service regime is limited to four (4) months. The special categories of vulnerable customers of Article 52 of the Law 4001/2011 are excluded from this limited period, as they fall under the Vulnerable Customers Registry according to the decision Δ5-ΗΛ/Β/Φ.1.21/οικ.12112/20.6.2013 by  the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy (B’ 1521). If these customers are removed from the Vulnerable Customer Registry, the time limits herein shall take effect as of the date customers are removed from the Registry.  The Universal Service Provider is bound to inform the Customer 30 days before the maximum 4-month period elapses, that a Customer's Declaration of Termination of Representation is to be submitted along with a Load Meter deactivation statement on a specific date, on grounds of outstanding debts and the subsequent expiry of the maximum period of being subject to the Universal Service regime.

After the lapse of the above fixed four-month period, for customers who do not meet the criteria of being subject to the Universal Service regime, the Universal Service Provider shall submit the Declaration of Termination of Representation and the Load Meter deactivation statement to the Electricity Distribution Network Operator.