„Only since August of this year has the ‘silent consent’ model been applied. Why was it chosen at the very beginning? Because it is intended to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for those who really want to take advantage of such an opportunity (…). After that, the system will be adjusted, there will no longer be ‘silent consent’ and each time the resident will have to express their wish and submit a request of their own free will,“ L. Savickas told LRT radio on Monday.
„Such models have already proven themselves in other policy areas and we believe that this will actually bring less uncertainty and will ensure that the system will be one in which residents will have the most accessible favorable tariff and the lowest prices possible,“ he added.
According to the minister, the aim is for 285 thousand vulnerable consumers, who are ‘more sensitive to changing electricity prices,’ to be able to pay 20 cents per kilowatt-hour: „They now spend from three to nine euros more per month.“
„The goal today is to talk about the category of vulnerable consumers and ensure that they can take advantage of this opportunity as easily as possible in the second half of this year. And for now, we hope that this information campaign, proactive actions from suppliers will help achieve these goals,“ the minister said.
The head of the electricity and gas supplier ‘Ignitis,’ a subsidiary of the energy group ‘Ignitis Group,’ Andrius Kavaliauskas says that people are being explained what their options are.
„Our job (…) is to explain as clearly and smoothly as possible to the person what is happening and what their options are. And if the person wants to get that better price, they choose the better price. If they want some other things that public supply does not have, then they remain with independent supply,“ A. Kavaliauskas explained to LRT radio.
According to him, out of 285 thousand vulnerable consumers – clients of independent suppliers – ‘Ignitis’ serves 160 thousand.
In turn, the commercial director of the independent electricity supplier ‘Elektrum Lietuva,’ Mantas Kavaliauskas, claimed that 30 thousand such consumers use their services, and they are informed about changes by phone or email.
„It really pains us that clients are required to leave our supply. We reduce tariffs for the vast majority of vulnerable consumers at our own expense to a lower price than the vulnerable tariff of public supply. Most clients did not need to be informed about contract termination,“ M. Kavaliauskas said.
„Unfortunately, we were not able to do this for everyone due to financial resources. We made this decision so that consumers would not be thrown from one supplier to another. Still, vulnerable consumers chose an independent supplier,“ he added.
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According to M. Kavaliauskas, ‘Elektrum Lietuva’ expects to retain about 90% of vulnerable consumers.
According to the Minister of Energy, ‘Elektrum Lietuva’ or ‘Enefit’ are unlikely to find ways to halve the electricity price for vulnerable consumers: „Competition and rivalry among independent suppliers certainly do not allow such significant changes to be made.”
„This decision (the obligation to return consumers to public supply – BNS) is short-term for this fixed period and provides tangible benefits to residents,“ L. Savickas said.
The public supply tariff for vulnerable persons has been 4 cents lower than the usual tariff since July and amounts to 20 cents per kilowatt-hour.
As BNS wrote, the Seimas adopted amendments in June obliging independent electricity suppliers to terminate fixed-price contracts with vulnerable consumers if the electricity price exceeds the public tariff.
Contracts must be terminated if this tariff is at least one cent lower than that of the independent supplier, the latter must inform the client about this and terminate the contract with their consent.
The Seimas also obliged the company ‘Energy Distribution Operator’ (ESO) to provide suppliers with data on vulnerable consumers entitled to public supply.
Residents are considered vulnerable when they receive social support, are persons with disabilities, or receive a social old-age pension or compensation.
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