Heating oil at the average price of 1.15 euros per liter and up to 1.25 in remote areas or the islands make it again a luxury that only a few Greeks can afford. Almost half of the heating oil price is due to high taxation, to add are also transportation cost.
Heating oil distribution started on Monday and confirmed speculations of the previous days and weeks that its price will be 20% higher than in the same period last year.
Experts justify the price increase with the international price of oil of more than 80 USD per barrel.
The average price for big cities is at €1.15 per liter while in remote areas the price can reach up to €1.25.
“We have zero orders,” heating oil traders told media on Monday.
Consumers said that they wait with the orders in the hope that the prices may fall.
Others say that they will first wait for the government decision with regards to the “heating oil allowance” for households with low income. It is not clear yet, when the decision will be issued and what income criteria will contain. Nevertheless, the heating oil allowance affects only very few.
Some consider to buy just a little for the very cold months.
An average Greek family will need to pay €1,150 for 1,000 liters in order to come through the winter months.
In October 2017, it had to pay €950 for the same amount.
The heating oil price is expecting to affect also the price for natural gas as it is normally 30% cheaper in Greece.
For one more year, many households will seek again alternative heating sources with wood burning stoves, fireplaces and electrical devices.
It will be the sixth winter many Greeks will come through without or insufficient heating – in European union in the year 2018.
Blame the economic crisis and the austerity that has financially drained millions of Greeks.
Now everybody hopes that the winter will be mild.
