EAC refunds €82.85 to flat tenants over faulty photovoltaic charges

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) has decided to refund 82.85 euros to tenants of apartments connected to photovoltaic systems in response to an incorrect charging mechanism, known as ripple control, that was found to be nonexistent in the system. The matter came to light following a report by the newspaper "ALITHEA."

Christina Papadopoulou, the press spokeswoman for the EAC, revealed to "K" that the double charges were unintentional. The error is believed to have occurred due to a delayed installation of the photovoltaic system by the responsible company for a consumer who had already paid for the EAC mechanism. As a result, another tenant in the same apartment building, who had a faster installation process by a different company, ended up bearing the same cost. The Service discovered that this tenant did not have ripple control on the apartment building's roof and was consequently charged extra. Papadopoulou clarified that the cost of paying for this mechanism is typically borne by the first tenant who receives approval to install a photovoltaic system.

When asked about the process of identifying citizens who were charged twice, Papadopoulou stated that the Service has a system to record the number of ripple controls on each roof of apartment buildings. This system will be used to verify and identify those who were charged incorrectly, ensuring they receive a refund of 82.85 euros.

Understanding Ripple Control:

Ripple control refers to a remote control receiver mechanism that interrupts the operation of photovoltaic systems in emergency situations, such as cloudy weather. The mechanism draws energy from the EAC network to prevent interruptions in the electricity supply.