All the blue tariffs that provide shelter from rising electricity prices

With August’s “green” tariffs ranging from 15.15 to 25.5 cents per kilowatt-hour and increases reaching up to 23% compared to the previous month, the shift toward fixed “blue” products is growing stronger, as consumers seek options without unpleasant surprises.

The average wholesale energy price in July jumped 17.5% to €102.20/MWh from €86.92/MWh in June amid a heat wave and surging demand, which reached as high as 11,000 MW.

Average “green” price at 18.8 cents

While some companies absorbed much of the increases and cut residential green tariffs by up to 12%, many providers raised their rates.

Specifically, August green tariff charges start at 15.15 cents/kWh and reach up to 25.5 cents, with the average at 18.8 cents/kWh — up 5.4% from July’s 18 cents and 17.14% higher than June.

• PPC: The green residential tariff (G1) is set at €0.15154/kWh from €0.156 (-2.87%). For dual-zone tariffs, the off-peak rate is €0.12786/kWh from €0.126.
• Protergia: Protergia Home Value Special at €0.179/kWh with prompt payment discount, up 6% from €0.169.
• Heron: Heron Basic Home at €0.17711/kWh with discount, up 8% from €0.16401.
• Elpedison: €0.179/kWh for the first consumption band (up to 100 kWh), same as July; above this, €0.2357/kWh, up 17%.
• Public Gas Corporation of Greece (DEDA): Special “Household Electricity” product drops to €0.17423/kWh, the month’s biggest reduction (-12%) from €0.19786.
• NRG: Special tariff at €0.199/kWh, up 2% from €0.1955.
• Elin: Power On! Home Green at €0.17518/kWh, up 23% from €0.14246.
• Volton: Volton Green Special at €0.16514/kWh with discount, down 12% from €0.1877.

“Blue” from 8.8 cents

While green variable tariffs are seeing notable increases, fixed-rate products start as low as 8.8 cents/kWh. On average, green tariffs are 61.4% more expensive than blue. Even factoring in the typically higher fixed fee for blue tariffs (about €10/month), the total cost remains significantly lower.

These increases have fueled a consumer shift toward blue tariffs for stability against volatile wholesale prices. According to RAAEY data, blue contracts rose from 800,265 at the end of 2024 to 1.3 million now, with expectations to exceed 1.5 million by year-end.

So far, the Energy Ministry has avoided subsidies, partly to prevent market distortions that could slow the shift to blue tariffs.

This trend isn’t new: in January 2024, blue tariffs had 161,461 customers (2.73% market share), climbing to 800,265 (13.49%) by December — a 396% increase in one year, or 638,804 new customers.

The shift is reshaping supplier strategies, as the need for risk hedging for hundreds of thousands of customers limits discount offerings and favors larger players. This could lead to greater market concentration — as seen in the recent Heron-nrg merger — with alliances forming bigger, more competitive entities, similar to the telecom sector.