Estonia’s Ministry of Climate has proposed ending universal electricity service contracts automatically, ERR reports. Under the proposal, customers with universal service would be switched automatically to state-owned energy group Eesti Energia’s general service if the average market price of electricity remains below the universal service price for three consecutive months. Eesti Energia’s general service would be tied to the average market price as well.
Currently, nearly 100,000 customers remain with universal service contracts. Timo Tatar, undersecretary at the Ministry of Climate, argued that customers should be able to have an opportunity to buy electricity at cheaper market prices. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev suggested that the universal service be phased out in 2024 instead of spring 2026 as planned. He said that the universal service was no good for either producers or consumers.