In times when millions of households are suffering from sharp income decrease, Greeks will get confronted with a further economic bleeding expected to trim down their personal budget. As of October , the heating oil will be sold at 1.40 euro per liter from 1 euro/lite during last winter. The dramatic price increase came after the bailout agreement imposed equation of the tax between heating and fuel oil to fill holes in the state registers.
Samaras government had promised to support poor households in regions with low temperatures with a “heating allowance”, it seems very hard for the Finance Ministry to find the necessary amount of 120 million euro. Maybe after the 31 billion euro bailout tranche, which is not expected before November…
And yet, the criteria are very strict with the effect that only one out of eleven Greeks may enjoy the government support.
While debt-ridden Greeks are seeking alternative ways (heating via A/C, firewood etc) to come through the upcoming winter, I heard on Skai TV this morning that the price may even go up to 1.60 euro per liter!
,blockquote cite>Representative of one of Greece’s biggest companies dealing with firewood imports told the Bulgarian news agency BTA that their company is sending about two trucks with firewood to Greece daily. She added that Greeks’ orders for firewood could fill 12 trucks each day but bureaucratic problems are limiting how much can be shipped into the country.
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2012/08/16/cheap-bulgarian-firewood-a-hot-item-in-greece/
Now there’s a practical bit of assistance for impoverished Greek families that will not cost the government anything. Cut the red tape…
some Greeks do it even cheaper: they chop their firewoods direct form the forests.
I wonder what the Greeks would do if they would have to heat their houses againts -15C -20C outdoor temperatures, which we have almost every winter in Poland.
in some mountain areas of Northern Greece temperatures are like that too.
I was shivering the last couple of nights at about 8 or 9 degrees (I do live in a basement suite on a street cooler than most due to a lot of trees and bushes, such that one can barely see a lot of the houses). I imagine it must get cooler in Greece. I know I came to Greece once in mid-March with a group of people. There was no heating in the hostel we stayed at and we were all sleeping with day clothes and coats on. Mind you we came from a place where there was still snow and not a green blade or leaf to be seen and were used to having the heat on all the time in houses with a lot of insulation. We were shocked to see green trees with oranges growing on them in Greece though we went to places in some mountains where there was snow too. If people get used to heat it is especially very hard to do without.
yes, it’s difficult to live without heat once you’re used to it. It happened to me in the past for reasons above my power: was wearing two pairs of trousers and socks, several t-shirts and pullovers and gloves without fingers. all these at home. most difficult is to get out of bed in the morning.
The reason the price for heating oil is going up from 1 euro to almost 1,50 is simply because the state is not willing to implement measures to stop the diesel fraud.
They are not able to control the just two refineries in this country and ofcourse not able at all to make sure your friendly neighborhood venzinopoulos is not cheating in every conceivable way. Heck, we even had a ND top brass removed as prefect because he pardoned some convicted oil dealer… allegedly, I hasten to ad.
But because of this total failure by the state this great plan was born to equalize the prices of household diesel and car diesel. Thus making us all pay for the incompetence of those who have jobs for lives and still a very, very nice income.
And to add insult to injury: the plan to play Santa Claus by then subsidizing the heating oil for ‘the poor’ (poor according to the states definition… probably those poor Kolonaki docters who were not even earning enough to be over the tax free treshold?) Sounds noble, eh? Well, that’s the citizens money too. A cigar from the own box if ever there was one.
Antonis, we pay for their incompetence and the vtted interests anyway.
BTW: I read the oil aid will be not much than 400 euro for each, paid later (Febr maybe when the bailout tranche is nicely distributed first among the banks) or in istallments or compensated for the tax these poor will have to pay in August. No, the state does not pay with interest rate.
400 euro is almost what I paid last Winter for oil. Plus 100 euro for firewood…
Have to admit that I was alone most of the Winter and wearing also two pairs of trousers and socks, several t-shirts and pullovers and gloves without fingers like you describe above. Guess that will be one thing I won’t miss this Winter.