Overdue electricity bills owed by consumers in Greece reached nearly €3 billion last year — down from a peak of €3.4 billion in previous years, but still a persistent concern for the energy market. According to the annual report published by the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAAEY), of the total €2.95 billion in overdue payments recorded in 2025, €1.45 billion stemmed from current customers and €1.53 billion from former customers who had already switched suppliers or disconnected service.
A Widespread Issue Across Customer Categories
In total, 2.74 million electricity consumers carried outstanding debts. RAAEY notes that the near-equal split between current and former customers highlights a critical point: the problem of overdue bills is not limited to active accounts, but significantly involves debts left behind by customers who have exited a supplier’s portfolio. This distinction is vital when assessing credit risk in the retail electricity supply market.
Debts from current customers can, in principle, be actively managed under existing contracts — through payment plans, settlements, or other collection mechanisms. In contrast, recovering debts from former customers is far more difficult, especially when those customers have moved to another supplier or ceased electricity supply altogether.
Cost Burden per Megawatt-Hour
For current customers, the average cost burden due to overdue payments stands at €28.90 per megawatt-hour (MWh). For former customers, the burden is even higher — €30.41/MWh — with 83% of these old debts concentrated among low-voltage consumers. This elevated figure signals that unpaid bills from departed customers represent a substantial credit risk for suppliers.
“The total amount of overdue debt — approaching €3 billion — underscores the scale of the issue and its importance for supplier sustainability, credit risk management, and, ultimately, the overall functioning of the retail electricity market,” concludes RAAEY.