EAC trade unions challenge ministry policy on solar energy compensation

Four trade unions active within the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC)—EPOPAI, SYDIKEK, SEPAIK, and SYVAHK—have expressed strong opposition to a policy promoted by the Ministry of Energy. The unions allege that Minister of Energy Michalis Damianos imposed a requirement on EAC Supply to provide compensation for surplus energy generated by photovoltaic systems. They argue that this decision contradicts previous legislative efforts, noting that a similar law passed by the House of Representatives was previously sent back by the President of the Republic due to constitutional concerns. The unions state that original photovoltaic installation schemes did not provide for oversizing systems beyond the needs of a property, meaning surplus production should not have been an intended feature. They further claim that the Ministry had previously identified such compensation as excessive and a burden on consumers who do not own photovoltaic systems. The unions warn that because EAC Supply is a non-profit service, this mandate will lead to financial losses, forcing the organization to pass the costs onto other consumers to avoid bankruptcy. The Ministry of Energy has yet to formally address these specific allegations regarding the constitutionality and financial sustainability of the current policy.