Photo: Pvproductions on Freepik
The Hellenic Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO or DEDDIE) has drawn severe criticism because of imposing fines for power theft in cases where no such wrongdoing took place.
Last year, HEDNO was asked by the government to step up its efforts to fight power theft, a major issue in the Greek market. In recent years, the phenomenon has worsened and is estimated to cost law-abiding consumers EUR 400 million per year. In 2022, 18% of the supplied energy was lost as a result of power theft or network losses in distribution. The number has remained high ever since.
However, the distribution system operator’s overzealous crews went over the top, fining consumers with thousands of euros, with little or no justification. In fact, there were cases where a drop in consumption as a result of irrelevant factors was considered power theft.
Households and businesses were obliged to pay, otherwise their supply would be cut off. Consequently, they must go to court to claim back the money, leading to a lengthy and costly process.
HEDNO fined by the regulator
The Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAEWW or RAAEY) has stepped in to fix the problem. Ruling on a specific consumer’s complaint against HEDNO, it determined that the operator acted illegally and against provisions set by the Metering Code.
In fact, RAAEY accused HEDNO of enforcing power theft rules that it wanted added in the code, but which the regulator has not accepted. Based on the ruling, HEDNO was fined EUR 120,000.
It remains to be seen whether RAAEY will impose more fines, as the receiver of many such complaints. The body said it is not responsible for solving disputes between the operator and consumers. However, through the recent ruling it set a proper regulatory framework going forward.
Έχω κατηγορηθεί άδικα από το ΔΕΔΔΗΕ για ρευματοκλοπή, χωρίς να τηρηθούν οι προβλεπόμενες διαδικασίες της ΡΑΕ, για ένα σπίτι που δεν αποτελούσε μόνιμη κατοικία και δεν εμφάνιζε καταναλώσεις, αφού για λόγους υγείας δε το επισκεπτόμουν.
Έχω αιτηθεί τον επανέλεγχο του μετρητή εννέα φορές, χωρίς να έχει γίνει δεκτό το αίτημά μου με διάφορες δικαιολογίες. Καταδικάστηκα ερήμην για ρευματοκλοπή, αφού ο ΔΕΔΔΗΕ εξαπάτησε το δικαστήριο. Σημειώστε, η οικία αυτή αποτελεί διατηρητέο μνημείο απο το Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού, προστατεύεται από το Ελληνικό Σύνταγμα και είναι χωρίς ηλεκτρική ενέργεια οκτώ χρόνια, κάνοντας αδύνατη τη συντήρησή της.