In an announcement on 11th December, the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE) stated that over €700 million have been saved to date from the electrical connection of Crete with the Peloponnese. This means that the cost of the project has been amortised twice over in the space of just 4 1/2 years. According to the announcement, the first connection of Crete with the mainland system came online in July 2021, and since then has to a large extent replaced local generation by thermal units which run on diesel, with relatively low output, increased operating costs and higher pollutant emissions.
ADMIE says that the electrification of Crete via the mainland system has also been instrumental in the reduction of the Community Benefit Services charge*, especially during the recent energy crisis. The replacement of the local diesel powered generating units saved at least €120 million on the special charge in a period in which the prices of natural gas and crude oil had significantly increased, raising electricity prices to an unprecedented level.
From the beginning of 2026, with Crete being supplied solely through the two cable connections – via Attica and the Peloponnese – and with the contribution of local generation through alternative energy sources, local conventional power generation will essentially end, only contributing for a minimum period during the year, in days of very high demand.
As ADMIE explains, the simultaneous operation of the two interconnections will multiply the economic benefit to €400-€600 million annually up to 2035, an amount which includes the estimated cost of €40-€60 million for maintaining the local units in a state of “cold standby” to cover possible emergency needs. In any case it is estimated that the net benefit to consumers will exceed €400 million annually, even taking into account of the cost of amortising the interconnection works for Crete through the System Use Charges on electricity bills.
Environmental benefits from the interconnections
In a further announcement on 17th December ADMIE stated that the two interconnections together with clean energy produced on the island had been covering the total demand over the past two days. It further clarified that with the operational connection of ADMIE’s automatic control systems, the fluctuating load for Crete is covered by power transmitted through the new Crete-Attica interconnection, while the flow of energy in the Peloponnese interconnection remains constant so as to be available for immediate supplementary power when considered necessary.
Repeating the enumeration of the financial savings produced by the two interconnections in its announcement of 11th December, the company further stated: “The biggest power transmission project implemented in Greece to date by the ADMIE and its subsidiary Ariadne Interconnection reinforces Crete’s energy security, quality of life and touristic product, and also provides significant environmental benefit resulting from the reduction of 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.”
(Haniotika Nea, 11, 20/12/25)
* The Community Benefit Services charge is levied on all electricity bills to cover the following benefits to qualifying consumers:
— Provision of low-cost electricity to vulnerable categories of consumer, such as people with special needs, three-child families on low incomes, long-term unemployed etc, who are signed up to the Social Residential Tariff.
— Provision of electricity to families with multiple children.
— Provision of electricity to the inhabitants of Non-connected Islands, at the same prices as those living in mainland areas, despite the fact that the generation cost of electricity on the islands is very much higher.
(https://www.dei.gr/en/home/contact-support/electricity-special-tariffs)