Greece will double subsidies for energy bills in September to 1.9 billion euros, extending financial support introduced in 2021 to protect consumers from rising prices, Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas announced on Tuesday, quoted by Reuters.

Like many other European Union states, Greece is facing a significant increase in electricity bills due to the explosion of natural gas prices, while the war in Ukraine and European sanctions against Russia have raised concerns about the security of gas supplies, according to Agerpres.

The new subsidies, which will be incorporated into energy bills, will absorb up to 94% of the increase in monthly energy bills for households and 89% for SMEs, the Minister of Energy announced.

The subsidy will be in September at 639 euros per MWh for the monthly energy consumption of a household, compared to 337 euros per MWh in August, Skrekas explained.

He added: “We are determined to continue the policy of protecting consumers, which is possible thanks to an efficient and prudent economic policy.”

“The current war in Ukraine is dramatically worsening the energy crisis,” Skrekas warned.

So far, the Government in Athens has spent around eight billion euros on subsidies and other support measures designed to help households, companies and farmers pay their electricity and gas bills.