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2.1 Million Greeks Face Blackout As Public Power Company Unpaid Bills Soars

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Greece’s Public Power Company is angry. The amount of unpaid bills by its customers has reached the astronomic EUR 2.5 billion. The PPC is so angry that it plans to cut the power to those without outstanding debts as soon as possible - a whopping 2.1 million Greeks face darkness.

 

As KeepTakingGreece reports, many Greeks cannot afford to pay the bi-monthly bill mostly because the amount to be paid doubles due to added extra fees like emissions, green-whatever, municipality fees, state tv fees,  etc.

For example bi-monthly electricity consumption is estimated by DEH to be €52 but i am asked to pay €100 becausee of the extra charges. The bill includes 13% Value Added Tax but also “interest” of €0.44 although I pay per monthly bank order and I am never late. Every 4 months I receive a bill based on my real consumption – and not just an ‘estimation’ – and then I find my self in a state of passing out. Summer months are more expensive due to the use of A/C, winter months are also expensive due to the use of electric devices like A/C to heat the apartment. Bills explode to several hundred euros.

I am not alone in my struggle to pay the bill. But many cannot even afford it.

???: ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????????? ?????????!

According to Greek media reports, 2.1 million consumers have outstanding debts to the Greek PPC. They are private households, businessmen of small and medium enterprises, merchants, craftsmen.

Now the PPC plans to “turn the power off” and leave them in the dark. Not without previous notice, though. It will send consumers a warning and if they won’t comply, they will desperately seek to turn on the lights in the evening, cook for their kids, keep the cheese in the fridge, use their wireless phone, watch tv, heat their homes opr complain about their situations on the internet.

The business debts are reportedly 1.8 billion euro.

Exempted from the planned power outages will be consumers in the program of “social price policy”, even though the PPC plans also to screen anew this customers’ category, as some apparently have misused this provision aimed solely for the poor households and people with disabilities.

Some consumers rush to make settlements for their debts but then the monthly payments to PPC are higher than the payments they can afford. Furthermore, the real life has showed that once in PPC debt, one is always in PPC debt unless one pays once for all the debt. There is not even 0.001% reduction in cases the consumer has paid 1,000 euro at once – just to name an example.

Households and businesses started to sink in PPC debts after the government incorporated the Special Property Tax in the PPC bills in 2011. Debts to PPC increased rapidly because consumers were simply unable to pay the bi-monthly bills that skyrocketed from let’s say 100 euro to more than 250 and thus amid the economic crisis of recession, unemployment and income decreases.

Meanwhile the Property Tax comes separately and directly from the tax office, but that incredibly bad practice imposed on 2011 and 2012 and the outstanding debts keep holding households and businesses as hostages for the rest of their lives.

Two months ago, I had posted about a jobless neighbor who was victim of PPC’s power outage since last March. Her bill was 700 euro. She will not be affected by the new power outages. She still lives in the dark and has no means to heat her home.

*  *  *

On a final note, KTG wonders aloud...

I wonder what the PPC will win if it cuts the power. It will not receive any money by those who do not have any anyway.

 

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Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:28 | 6753292 WTFRLY
WTFRLY's picture

If you don't like the empire, then move to another galaxy.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:48 | 6753378 FreeMoney
FreeMoney's picture

How could you not like the socialist utopia...

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:53 | 6753401 coinhead
coinhead's picture

Teh power grid worked on a classic gold standard, teh Bretton Woods system, teh petro-dollar system and there is no reason to doubt it will work fine on teh bit-standard.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:00 | 6753442 LowerSlowerDela...
LowerSlowerDelaware_LSD's picture

Their BitCoins work great.  Then this happens. D'oh!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:45 | 6753652 erkme73
erkme73's picture

Good God was that a hard read.  I had to double-check that this wasn't one of those Google translated articles.  

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:53 | 6753693 Pliskin
Pliskin's picture

Yay, Bitcoin Bitchez, I'll just pay my bills with my Bitcoin...oh, wait...errr!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:48 | 6754117 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Can you pay those bills with gold?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:49 | 6754118 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Dupe. Deleted

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:45 | 6753654 FringeImaginigs
FringeImaginigs's picture

Sorry, but you have confused socialism with Croney Capitalism, Corruption and Crass Conservatism. 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:12 | 6753502 negative rates
negative rates's picture

That's like trying to raise rates, it's easier said than done.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:28 | 6753294 remain calm
remain calm's picture

Greece is fixed. Please move on.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:49 | 6753385 semperfi
semperfi's picture

yes please Tyler - no more posts of any sort about greece for 5 years

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:29 | 6753300 Monetas
Monetas's picture

Have to keep the lights on for the Muslim tourists .... otherwise, Greece is just another Norf Korea ?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:37 | 6753314 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

When Detroit was facing similar problems they cut water to customers behind on their bills (in some cases by years).  Guess what?  People started paying their fucking bills.

What would be the purpose of invoicing somebody if you didn't expect to be paid?  Or maybe this is another "electricity is a basic human right- you should be able to have as much as you want even if you never pay for it" situation.

"I wonder what the PPC will win if it cuts the power. It will not receive any money by those who do not have any anyway."

It's called cutting your losses.  You don't keep supplying something forever if you aren't going to get paid for it.  And riddle me this- how exactly do they know that NOBODY getting cut off has any money to pay for the power?  Every last one of them has no money?  I'll bet you $20 real cash money they're wrong.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:40 | 6753347 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

Detroit is very, very far from me, I don't know much about that

but I have one question: did Detroit have bankers and economists from London and NY (not mentioning other capitals) that constantly said Detroit would be better off if it did set up it's own currency and then devalue it until everything is hanky-dory?   if not, why not?

note that part of the Greek Left is of the opinion that electricity is a basic human right. not going into the matter, just noting it

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:44 | 6753366 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

We already fought our civil war over that issue.  Go fight yours, then talk to me.  

Until then, yes, Greece would be better off returning to the Drachma, taking their lumps and recovering on a firmer footing of their own choosing.  Iceland did and they're climbing back out of the very deep hole they dug for themselves.  Perfect?  No.  Better?  Yes.

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:18 | 6753533 Anopheles
Anopheles's picture

Greece isn't Iceland by a LONG shot. 

Icelanders are very independent and they don't rely on their government for handouts.  Iceland is also a net exporter and a prosperous country, and Greece is a net importer and a poor country.

The government in Iceland got into trouble because of over ambitious and poor purchase decisions of foreign banks.  This is VERY different than Greece, which borrowed and GAVE the money to the people.   Iceland only had a hiccup for a few years becasue their investments turned sour.   It didn't change the underlying prosperity

If Greece returns to the Drachma, NOTHING WILL CHANGE and Greece will REMAIN a deadbeat. 

 

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:50 | 6753678 Pliskin
Pliskin's picture

Really? Greece GAVE the money to its citizens did it? Wow, what's that, about 35 thousand Euros each, well fuck 'em if the generous government gave 'em all that money and they can't afford to pay their bills, then it's their own tuff shit.

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:33 | 6754044 RedDwarf
RedDwarf's picture

Yep.  Greece is deep in the Socialist quicksand.  Iceland for all that people call it 'Socialist' it is really mostly Capitalist.  As you say, they are prosperous and productive.  Greece is a nation of people raised to live off of the State teat.  Going from EU to Drachma will not fix their woes, though it is probably a required step.  Their problems are deeply structural.  Until they repudiate the debt and go back to work things will just get worse.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:44 | 6754953 Squid-puppets a...
Squid-puppets a-go-go's picture

indeed. even after aaaaaaaaall this shit theyve been going through, the old age pension is still given at, like 55 or 56 yrs old

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:09 | 6753486 Anopheles
Anopheles's picture

Detroit had pretty much that.  

They had black, democrat (leftist) mayors that believed they could create a better, and more fair city by kicking out everyone who actually contributed money and prospertiy to society and only endorsing socalist platforms. 

 

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:41 | 6753640 More Ammo
More Ammo's picture

I overheard a teevee comercial the other day that internet access is a "right"... Guess I should quit paying that bill right?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 18:41 | 6755418 The Gladiator
The Gladiator's picture

 What is this "real cash money" you speak of?

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:33 | 6753316 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Al Snore applauds this action. We need moar people off the grid if we are to save the planet.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:36 | 6753324 Rainman
Rainman's picture

Greek government banned the use of fireplaces and wood stoves cuz it's bad for the environment.

                         http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2013/11/06/greek-govt-to-ban-operation-of-fireplaces-wood-burning-stoves-and-fine-wrongdoers-2/

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:41 | 6753358 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

These people are fucked. Come to think of it, we're all fucked.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:41 | 6753644 More Ammo
More Ammo's picture

no lube either

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:47 | 6753374 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

Great warmth and light will be generated when the people of Greece wake up and set fire to their Parliament.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:34 | 6753317 Seasmoke
Seasmoke's picture

TPTB keep fighting that inevitable RESET. The sooner the better. They may even get to keep their heads. 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:52 | 6753396 semperfi
semperfi's picture

the "RESET" will only come via WAR - as always

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:16 | 6753783 messymerry
messymerry's picture

Mao Tse Tung said, change will come, change will come thru the barrel of a gun.

Thankee Alabama:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWBjwgxEawo

;-D   

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:15 | 6753517 negative rates
negative rates's picture

If they don't keep their heads, there will be hell to pay.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:36 | 6753328 youngman
youngman's picture

You dont pay your bill ..you dont get anymore..sounds good to me...

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:40 | 6753349 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Maybe we'll meet someday at the reeducation camp together.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 18:37 | 6755401 The Gladiator
The Gladiator's picture

But.....Bernie!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:37 | 6753337 Jethro
Jethro's picture

Back to donkey transportation.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:37 | 6753338 wildbad
wildbad's picture

is this the sound of rubber leaving the pavement?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:41 | 6753356 MoonSun
MoonSun's picture

Populist parties in Europe have already said that this problem can be solved by nationalizing the electric company.

Oh wait! It's already public! 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:48 | 6753379 oddjob
oddjob's picture

Just yesterday some bitcoin enthusiast was calling somebody stupid for worrying about a supply of electricity.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:05 | 6753468 RadioFlyer
RadioFlyer's picture

Wait, bitcoin doesn't work in a blackout?  Shocker...  bzzzzt bbzzzzzzt!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 18:36 | 6755396 The Gladiator
The Gladiator's picture

Stack physical bitcoin. duh.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:49 | 6753387 Jason T
Jason T's picture

thats why they call it a "Dark Age"

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:52 | 6753395 riot-police
riot-police's picture

I would take no electricity over being cold and hungry any day. It might be a sign of how bad it realy is.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:52 | 6753398 mademesmile
mademesmile's picture

This story is motivating me to look into solar power and a battery bank.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:11 | 6753497 SmallerGovNow2
SmallerGovNow2's picture

I have one that i did as an "experiment".  $4,000 later and I'm able to run a freezer in my garage full time and maybe occasionally a few electric tools and a radio.  Four 6 volt batteries in series for 24 volts.  Charged by four 160 watt pannels in series through a charge controller.  Designed, picked components, and built myself.  If you have someone else do it plan on $7500 for the same system.  If you want a whole house system installed by someone plan on $80,000 for a 2000 SF house...

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:02 | 6753733 Flagit
Flagit's picture

Great job!!

Now, when the power goes out, just even for a day or even hours, your food will not spoil. Heard more than one horror story about the weeks groceries getting thrown out because of "scheduled" maintenance, or whatnot, rare as it is. A small cache of propane and charcoal is nice, but wood and a grill will go much farther.

With that chest freezer you can freeze water bottles for the fridge. Your battery bank can make use of rechargeable tools, chainsaw, ect, assuming you have those. Small lamps and batteries too. More importantly, you will understand why people went to bed at 8:00 in the past, and why no cable TV = lots of kids.

I read a review at Harbor Freight of the 4000w inverter. During Katrina a guy ran one off his Prius. Took turns between the TV & fridge, and the AC.

 

In my next tutorial, we look at home defense. How To Make A Homemade Blunderbuss And Powder.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:39 | 6753852 Nostradumbass
Nostradumbass's picture

 

 

The invention of refrigeration, like television and automobiles, has led to the diminishment of neighborhood interaction. Modern people can stay in their fixed and mobile cocoons and need not get together with their community to address important issues.

Now I'm no luddite, I employ all of the above plus I'm a freedom fighter keyboard warrior - hear me roar! 

meow.

Just sayin'...

: )

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:00 | 6753919 Osmium
Osmium's picture

Guess I need a shopping list then.  Step 1, steal a prius...

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:45 | 6753859 silverer
silverer's picture

Just remember, it's may be illegal to set yourself up as self sufficient in parts of the US.  You can't be off the grid.  They will pull your Certificate of Occupancy, threaten you with eviction,  and fine you in many areas.  One homeowner tried it in Florida.  About two weeks after they had the power shut off, they got a letter from the town telling them they had to hook back up or be evicted.  If this doesn't expose the "Big Lie", what does?  Here's your possible out:  Just don't pay your electric bill.  Tell them you want electricity, but you don't have the money.  They'll wait around hoping you'll pay.  Much smarter than purposely disconnecting.

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/03/09/florida-makes-off-grid-li...

 

.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:47 | 6753885 Lucky Leprachaun
Lucky Leprachaun's picture

"If this doesn't expose the "Big Lie", what does?"

Exactly. Hope this realization dawns on more and more people.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:01 | 6753407 dearth vader
dearth vader's picture

The bill on top is from 2012.... 

The capital text says: interruption notice due to current debt.

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:03 | 6753460 Anopheles
Anopheles's picture

And it still hasn't been paid. 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:58 | 6753432 two hoots
two hoots's picture

"I Am", therefore, "You Will"?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:59 | 6753440 ejmoosa
ejmoosa's picture

Eventually you run out of other people's money.

Eventually has arrived.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:01 | 6753444 Smegley Wanxalot
Smegley Wanxalot's picture

The beauty is once they cut off power to the leeches, the rates for everyone else will rise as they will have fewer customers over which to spread the fixed costs.  Then paying customers will default too.  Hahaha. 

At least the muzzie invaders will have free power, though, to charge their free iPhones and power their free internet so they can film how miserable they are eating free food and lounging around and send images back to their wives and kids dodging bullets in Buttfuckistan.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:45 | 6753878 Lucky Leprachaun
Lucky Leprachaun's picture

Not correct. By cutting off the leeches they reduce the amount of power they need to produce. The paying customer base stays unchanged but the utility's operating costs go down.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:04 | 6753465 CHoward
CHoward's picture

Nothing personal but I don't give a crap about what is happening in Greece.  I do care about what is happening to the poor and middle class right here in America and I don't see much difference.  Homelessness and people living on food stamps and food banks to survive are skyrocketing and we have articles about the poor on the other side of the planet?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:19 | 6753534 MoonSun
MoonSun's picture

I am interested with what happens in America and in many other places. This is the Internet, man. We are global. Everything is connected.

Lots of us here are precisely from that other side of the planet :-)

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 18:31 | 6755381 The Gladiator
The Gladiator's picture

I always thought ZH was my local paper.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:40 | 6753639 Pliskin
Pliskin's picture

Nobody asked you to click on it!

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 01:51 | 6756819 DaveA
DaveA's picture

Then you also don't give a crap when the canoe farthest ahead of you suddenly disappears over an uncharted waterfall because no one you knew was in it. Nor do you care when the canary dies in your coal mine because you never liked birds anyway.

The "much difference" you don't see is that America's government still prints money, and will print for as long as it can, to ease the pain of our spreading poverty, while Greece's government is dead broke.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:13 | 6753490 Debugas
Debugas's picture

malinvestment

OVERPRODUCTION OF POWER

they should demolish some power stations

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:33 | 6753844 silverer
silverer's picture

If they can't produce competitively and affordably, then they should all go work for the government.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:14 | 6753513 festerd
festerd's picture

On a lighter note, the customers disconnected will not be charged for the power they're not using.   Reconnect fees, taxes, and demand charges are still in effect, however.   Thanks to Barry, and his EPA, this is our future here in the U.S. as well, plan accordingly.  

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:22 | 6753548 GC
GC's picture

"I wonder what the PPC will win if it cuts the power. It will not receive any money by those who do not have any anyway."

 

Well, for instance, they will not have to supply even more energy to people who don't pay. You might not get your money back, but at least you don't throw more away. Besides, once in the dark, a good % of people suddently feel more inclined to pay.

You know, Russia and Ukraine 2013 style?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:24 | 6753563 theblackknight
theblackknight's picture

Just watch what happens in this petri dish of a country, like cyprus, and  prepare.. Also, just have one member of you family on gubboment o sistance to keep the free utilities. They can only turn off the power if you can pay. Libtard-tard uptarding retarded "logic".

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:25 | 6753567 flysofree
flysofree's picture

They should take comfort that the money they send to Germany provides for free energy for Muslim migrants.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:27 | 6753584 moonmac
moonmac's picture

Greeks said ATM’s would never stop working and they’d never have to barter for food or deal with blackouts. Most Americans feel the same way.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:32 | 6753602 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

How come it's taken so long.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:38 | 6753630 Zero-Hegemon
Zero-Hegemon's picture

Obviously it's time to go long on Greek candle makers

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:51 | 6753684 Spectre
Spectre's picture

Like their Gov't they wait until the debt goes out of control before they do anything about it.  They can't seem to deal with the short term screaming of customers till it's too late.  Fools Management.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:47 | 6753785 silverer
silverer's picture

This WAS Greece.  With no electricity, no money, no way to heat a home, and barely enough food, it becomes a Spartan challenge!  This is Sparta!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:42 | 6753863 Lucky Leprachaun
Lucky Leprachaun's picture

Bi-monthly can mean either twice a month or every two months. Which is it here?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:20 | 6754812 Fod
Fod's picture

Every two months in this case, the first one is based on an assumption of the amount of electricity the provider is expecting you to use, the second one after the next two months is the real calculation.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:46 | 6753874 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

If I read this correctly, what has happened is that the power company is now tasked with collecting various taxes that were previously being ignored by the tax-averse Greek population (and good for them, I might add). Binding the tax to the essential service of electricity makes it impossible to evade (in theory) without seriously undermining one's quality of life. 

My suspicion is that this was one of the reforms required by the EU as a pre-condition to doling out more pesos to the Greekos. Frankly, it's rather ingenious even if it represents a dire and abrupt change from the comfortable old Aegean status quo. I wouldn't be surprised if the practice spreads elsewhere in short order, so take heed.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:27 | 6754849 Fod
Fod's picture

Fun fact: the tax tied to the bill was a property tax (one of many) which Greeks in general did not avoid paying. Keep in mind that tax evasion in Greece was mainly happening in income taxes, and evasion was quite high due to the high number of small companies and self-employed people. Also, what I see as a common misconception is the fact that many people think that Greeks evaded taxes just because they're cheaters which is not quite true. You are happy to live in countries where the state has a minimum of reciprocity whereas this has never been the case in Greece. Greek politics are rife with economic scandals and the way they get covered up? More scandals. Lots of fun to be had.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:28 | 6754024 frankly scarlet
frankly scarlet's picture

This is not just the turning off of lights to the unemployed but in reality driving them into the third world or even the fourth. If I was terminal in Greece I'd take one with me.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:33 | 6754040 Jonas
Jonas's picture

Yes, free electricity for all.

The greeks deserve it!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:58 | 6754151 Guentzburgh
Guentzburgh's picture

Lights out for those who voted Tsipras!

Where is the issue? You want to stay in Germany's Europe you have to pay the price, no money, foreigner in your own country and political/economic corruption bigger than that of Russia.

These people deserve what they get.

, move on and let Greeks enjoy their choices

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 14:28 | 6754302 Graph
Graph's picture

A/C units on over hundred years old houses is good reason for LG logo to look like smiling face. Today's folks can't live without. 

Something to note (not pro soc/comm), just say'n:

After colapse of CCCP no electricity was cut off .

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 18:37 | 6755030 7 of 15
7 of 15's picture

Perhaps selling photovoltaics in Greece is an opportuinty.   I imagine that they can be smuggled in easily enough so at least for the seller, they are tariff and VAT free.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 18:25 | 6755353 The Gladiator
The Gladiator's picture

"winter months are also expensive due to the use of electric devices like A/C to heat the apartment."  Well now.Therein lies your problem, Mr. Olive Eater. That new fangled air conditioner only puts out a cold wind.Using it in the winter kinda defeats the purpose.

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