Law 2773/99

This law, enacted in 1999: (1) Gives renewables priority in network dispatching if the installed capacity does not exceed 50 MW, or in the case of hydropower 10 MW. The priority right also covers the power surplus of auto-producers within these same capacity limits. The law obliges the Transmission System Operator and the Public Power Company to provide connection to new generators but, in practice, the development of wind power in some mountain and island areas is slowed down by the need to simultaneously extend transmission networks. (2) Established buy-back systems for electricity generated from renewables in the interconnected and non-interconnected networks. In the interconnected network the Public Power Corporation (PPC) pays the generator a price which is composed of an energy and a capacity charge. The energy charge is 90% of the energy part of the medium-voltage domestic end-use tariff and the capacity charge is 50% of the capacity part of same tariff. In the non-interconnected islands, PPC pays only for energy, not capacity. The price paid by PPC is 70% of the low-voltage end-use tariff, except for co-generators using renewable energy who receive 90% compensation. In 2001, the average buy-back tariff was € 0.0616/kWh in the interconnected system and € 0.0731/kWh on the islands. (3) Introduced a 2% tax on electricity production from renewables at the local level. The revenues are used for projects to increase public acceptance of wind power.