Greece to restrict electricity provider switching for debtors

The Greek government is preparing to amend the Electricity Supply Code to combat ‘energy tourism,’ a practice where consumers leave unpaid electricity bills and switch to new providers to avoid debt collection. In collaboration with the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water (RAAEEY), the Ministry of Environment and Energy is introducing a registration and flagging system for overdue debts.

Under the new regulations, electricity providers will notify the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) of consumers with outstanding balances. If a consumer accumulates three such flags, they will be prohibited from switching suppliers until the debt is settled or a repayment plan is established.

The intervention follows a RAAEEY annual report indicating that total overdue debts from households and businesses reached approximately €2.98 billion in 2025. Roughly €1.53 billion of this amount—nearly half—is attributed to consumers who have already changed providers, making debt recovery significantly more difficult.