House blocks ‘zeroing’ of solar surpluses pending government decision

Surplus electricity generated by household solar panel systems will no longer be written off following a unanimous vote in parliament on Thursday.

The decision partially accepts a referral by President Nikos Christodoulides concerning amendments to the law on promoting renewable energy sources, with MPs modifying provisions to address concerns over constitutionality and separation of powers.

Under the approved framework, excess energy produced by households “will not be deleted” and will instead be retained until the cabinet sets out a compensation mechanism.

House energy committee chair and Disy MP Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis said the committee opted for partial acceptance of the referral, stressing that “the main change is that surplus energy produced by household photovoltaics will not be deleted until the council of ministers decides.”

Dipa MP Alekos Tryfonidis said the move ensures that accumulated energy credits are preserved, expressing optimism that decisions will be taken “in favour of consumers”.

Diko MP Michalis Yiacoumi described the outcome as addressing “a clear injustice” affecting around 100,000 households, adding that previously erased surpluses “will no longer be reduced to zero”.

Akel MP Costas Costa criticised the broader handling of renewable energy, stating that cut-offs of photovoltaic production “have become the norm” despite earlier assurances they would be a last resort.

He said the decision ensures “no energy reserves will be reduced to zero” and that responsibility for resolving the issue now shifts to the government.

Independent MP Irene Charalambides pointed to earlier commitments that no such reductions would occur, saying households that invested in solar systems continue to face high electricity bills due to “inadequate management”.

Ecologists MP Charalambos Theopemptou said the issue reflects broader structural challenges, arguing that “by 2030 all buildings should have photovoltaics” while stressing the need for solutions to absorb renewable energy into the grid.

The original referral concerned an amending law that would have allowed the method of compensating surplus energy to be set by decree, alongside the reintroduction of a support scheme for self-production.

MPs accepted certain elements of the president’s objections – such as raising government expenditure or interference of the legislature with the functions of the executive branch of government – while preserving the core aim of preventing the loss of household-generated energy.

The vote comes amid public reaction to recent electricity bills in which accumulated photovoltaic credits were reduced to zero, prompting complaints from households and raising pressure on authorities to clarify the regulatory framework governing renewable energy use and compensation.