The first occasion you are likely to come across the electricity company is when you buy a property or rent a home on on Crete. In Greece, the electricity bill covers both usage of electricity, the local government rates and the fee to fund state broadcaster, EPT (the Greek, BBC.)
DEH (ΔΕΗ Α.Ε ) - The Greek National Electricity Company
DEH electricity charges and billing are based on a quarterly assessment, calculated on matching meter reading dates. You receive a bill, basically every other month (six week intervals allowing for public holidays etc). The first bill arrives via the postman after the end of the quarter in question. Half way through the next an assessed usage bill comes through the letter box based on the previous consumption rate. There are several levels of usage on which charges are based - across the whole quarter.
Lenient on Late Payers
The electricity company, DEH is understanding and tends to have a lenient policy towards late paying customers. If you don't pay the bill in a reasonable time, you will eventually get cut off! If you are on a tight budget, the key is to call in to your local Electric (or Telephone Company) Office and ask what your bill currently stands at, then pay some, or most of it off. That way you're always ahead of the game and should not get cut off. (Local residents say DEH does not take action if the billing total amount is under €90).
Long Periods of Absence - Special Billing
DEH has an excellent special billing system of allowing for long periods of absence by owners from their Greek homes (i.e. holiday homes). About one month before an owner will be away (usually for the wintertime period) go into a local DEH customer service centre. Tell them you will be away and for how many months and they will make a special calculation. This calculation will be much less than otherwise would be the case in not telling them, by just leaving the house empty.
Standing Orders
During 2005/2006, standing instructions payments with a number of banks was promoted by the utility companies in Crete. Previously this was not possible. So, you can now set those up through your local Crete bank account.
Bills can be paid at any Post Office, and over the counter at your bank but watch out for what can seem a hefty handling fee plus VAT.
DEH has its own payment offices in main towns, where you can settle the bill with no service charge.
Power Surges, Cuts - Getting Better
Power Cuts or "outages" can be frequent in Crete lasting from a split second to a few hours. In 2007, the situation was getting much better. If you have electronic gear, do yourself a favour and protect your equipment from power surges and purchase a Belkin UPS Power Management System, as "Dirty Mains" can be the cause of the loss of your Computer Hard Drive and all the data on it. The Belkin units also have a version that includes telephone socket breakers as well. Crete suffers from local thunderstorms throughout the year and it is not unknown for telephone cables to conduct a lightening strike, knocking out your telephone line. Do not use your computer during a thunderstorm!
++Guide to Latest Crete electricity costs.
Note: Deregulation of the electricity industry and was supposed to give consumers a choice of supplier. By December 2007, this had yet to happen in Crete.
Water Supply
Water service is the responsibility of the local municipality in which you live. If you are in a town or village then dealing with the local Mayor's office will be straight forward for "domestic" water supply. This will be different when it comes to land outside the limits of the village or town, or if you happen to own an olive grove within the boundary. Water supply then becomes an agricultural matter and should be taken care of at the time you purchase your property and in your contract to purchase, or the landlord will have arranged it in the case of a rental property. This can be a complex matter and should be followed up appropriately.
The Greek System of Flushing Toilets, Plumbing and Ablutions
A Bit Weird, Isn't It?
Well actually no. Insisting that only natural waste matter goes down the small diameter soil pipe and not the paper and other things that find their way into the toilet bowl, has kept Crete's and Greece's thousands of kilometres of coastline relatively free from sea borne pollution. So while on hottest of days, the paper bin depository next to the toilet seat, may be a bit pongy (stinks), it is but a small price to pay and better than polluting the coast. With Crete's one million tourists a year since the 1970s visiting the island, we should be thankful that a simple idea of separating, then burning used toilet paper, instead of flushing it, has helped preserve Crete's generally good record on controlling pollution.
Another Fact - Knossos Palace - First Flushing Toilet in the World
Did you know that the Cretan forefathers invented the first sewage system and flushing toilets in the world. The system was built at Knossos Palace, near Heraklion somewhere between 1,700BC and 1,500BC by the Minoan civilization which was centred on Crete. It is a pity the water based, technology fell into dis-use until the Roman era and only revived again in Western Europe in the 19th century.
Other Useful Reference Pages on Ex Pat Living in Crete:
Schools for Foreign Children
Being part of the EU, Greece through state organisations has sponsored Schools for Foreign Children, including the EU, European School Heraklion. A true experience of bringing the kids over in "Making the Leap with Kids".
Living in Winter is Different
Crete - you know the weather is good that is why you come to Southern Greece but Crete also has a winter climate and its house heating implications.
PTT - Post and Telecoms
Telephone, Internet and Postal Services - what you need to know.
Healthcare and Medical Services
Essential reading, including the private Cretan Medicare Centres.
Cretan Culture
Retaining language and customs yet making foreigners feel inclusive along with choices in local TV Viewing.
Updated Cost of Living Details - February 2008
More important information for calculating the cost of living on fixed income on a monthly basis.
Stores and Supermarkets Grocery Shopping
From small village stores, to large supermarket chains, like Carrefour and Lidl, Crete has it all. A Quick guide to what is available.
Citizens Advice Bureaus in Greece (K.E.P.)
Your short cut to the Ministries and who is responsible for what.
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