Our history

In November 1948, in the context of the Marshall Plan, the Supreme Council for Reconstruction compiles a four-year programme of economic redress that includes a nation-wide project of electrification by harnessing the hydraulic power of eight rivers. The design of the electrification project is commissioned to a US company, Ebasco Services Incorporated.

PPC was founded in August 1950 with the aim to bring electricity to the farthermost reaches of the country. It started operations in two areas: electricity generation and lignite exploitation.

Construction of the Aliveri Thermal Power Plant begins immediately. The development of 2 lignite mines of a total yield of 3,000 tons of lignite daily paves the way for the exploitation of other lignite reserves with modern extraction methods.

The two modern turbine generators ensure an energy generation capacity of 600.000.000 KWH annually. During 1953-1954, the Power Plant consumes more than 350.000 tons of lignite.

Completion of the Hydroelectric Power Plant at Louros, between Ioannina and Preveza (capacity 5.000 KW). The Agra Hydroelectric Power Plant (capacity 40.000 KW) in central Macedonia is put into operation.

The Ladonas Hydroelectric Power Plant at Arcadia (capacity: 50.000 ΚW) begins operating. A spectacular artificial lake of a capacity of 50.000.000 cubic meters is created. Approximately 1,000 Greek and 400 Italian workers are employed in the construction.

PPC is granted an exclusive privilege for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity throughout the country. It starts to acquire private or community-owned undertakings operating within the national territory. The signature in 1960 of an agreement with the largest of the then-existing electricity companies, the Athens-Piraeus Electricity Company (in Greek: ΗΕΑΠ), completes the basic round of acquisitions.

PPC’s contribution to national industrialization and development has been pivotal and changed people’s lives enormously as electric appliances began to emerge which would radically transform everyday life. In fact, company crews performed demos of electric appliances throughout the country (1956-1964).

PPC participates for the first time in the 21st Thessaloniki International EXPO with a pavilion comprised of the “electric cottage”, a fully illuminated farmhouse of the future fully fitted with electrical equipment, and a high voltage electricity transmission pylon.

The first issue of PPC’s first bond loan of 90.000.000 drachmae with an annual interest rate of 8% is offered for subscription on the 1st of July 1957. The aim of the bonds is to repay part of the value of facilities acquired by the PPC throughout Greece.

Agricultural electrification has been a core pursuit for PPC since its foundation. The PPC led an extensive information campaign for the rural population through advertisements and roadshows across the countryside about the advantages of electricity in agricultural production.

In February 1959 it was decided to acquire 9/10 of LIPTOL S.A.’s shares in an effort by PPC to ensure trouble-free uninterrupted supply of lignite for the Ptolemaida complex, which was under construction.

The first power generation unit of the Ptolemaida Thermal Power Plant (capacity: 70.000 KW) becomes operational. The iconic cooling tower soars to 72 meters and the chimney to 110 – the highest construction in the country at the time.

The PPC’s national system is interconnected with the southern Yugoslavian system through the transmission line Ptolemaida-Monastir following the signature of the Greek-Yugoslavian agreement for the exchange of electricity.

PPC mounted and operated the first experimental TV station in Greece at the 25th Thessaloniki EXPO. The station functioned for approximately three weeks in total and broadcasts ran every evening from 19:30 to 22:00. Thessaloniki residents watched the programme on one hundred TV sets placed by Philips at landmark spots in the city.

The first unit of the Tavropos Hydroelectric Power Plant (Megdova), south west of Karditsa, begins operations. The artificial lake of Tavropos (lake Plastiras) is created; its waters are used to meet the Plant’s needs and to irrigate the Thessalian plain.

The laying of submarine cables began in the ’60’s bringing electricity to every corner of Greece and earning the admiration of the public.

The Athens Model Technical Apprenticeship School gets off the ground in 1964; the Fast-Track Technical Training School is founded one year later whereas the Vocational Training Schools for PPC Technicians in Athens (Roof), Thessaloniki, Herakleion, Grete, Chalkida and Aliveri continue operating.

By the end of 1965, PPC supplies with electricity 2.703 countryside settlements (cities, towns and villages) of a population of 4 million.

The largest PPC project so far, and one of the biggest dams in Europe, the Kremasta Hydroelectric Power Plant, in the Acheloos complex, measuring 160 meters high and 600 meters long, becomes operational. At the peak of the works, the total manpower involved amounts to approximately 3.500 people.

The first two units of the Thermal Power Plant in the lignite-rich region of Megalopolis become operational. In 1975, the third unit of 300,000 KW was included, while the fourth unit was built (1991) with the most modern specifications (exhaust desulphurisation system).

The biggest PPC thermal unit of that time (capacity: 200.000 KW) is installed at the Agios Georgios TPP, in Keratsini.

The first Thermal Unit (capacity: 150.000 KW) becomes operational whereas construction of the second one gets under way (capacity: 300.000 KW).

Completion of the two units of the Polyphytos Hydroelectric Power Plant at the Aliakmonas complex.

The first two units of the Kardia Thermal Power Plant, in the prefecture of Kozani, start operations (capacity: 600.000 KW)

Unit 3 of the Kardia TPP (capacity: 300 MW) begins operations and Unit 4 (capacity: 300 MW) is added one year later; the same goes for the gas turbine units of the Lavrio TPP (6 units of a capacity of 234 MW). Moreover, 164 km of transmission lines and 3.975 km of medium and low voltage distribution network are constructed.

Ebasco as technical advisor to the PPC is commissioned with the preliminary steps to install a nuclear power plant in Greece.

Drilling for the first of the 4 new geothermal deep wells starts on Milos island. The aim is to generate steam in view of the project to install a pilot unit of 10 MW. The Department of Alternative Energy Forms is established.

The Pournari HPP begins operations (capacity: 300 MW). During the same year, the Agios Georgios TPP in Keratsini was taken out of operation to reduce air pollution in the Attica basin.

On 5 June 1982, PPC begins to operate the country’s first wind farm on Kythnos island (capacity: 100 KW) whereas during the same year the first photovoltaic power plant (capacity: 50 kW) of the EEC programme becomes operational at Agia Roumeli, Crete.

In the context of the Greek industry aid policy and the “hellenization” of the energy projects’ equipment manufacturing (lignite mines, hydroelectric projects, etc.) a programme agreement is signed on 29 April 1983 between the PPC and the Greek Powder and Cartridge Company, PYRCAL S.A. The co-operation with PYRKAL S.A. bears its first fruits in the course of the same year with contracts for the construction of works from Greek industries (conveyor belt for inert materials at the Amyntaio Mine, lignite stacker in Amyntaio and Ptolemaida South Field, etc.).

The largest power plant in Greece becomes operational in 1984.

A programme agreement is signed on 30 August 1984 between PPC and the Hellenic Aerospace Industry to build wind turbines that may be extended to other works, such as repair of gas turbines, construction of photovoltaic components, turbines for small hydro projects, etc.

The first two units of the Sfikia Hydroelectric Power Plant and the first two units of the Asomatoi HPP start operations in March and April, respectively.

The Karpathos Wind Farm which contains the biggest wind turbine made in Greece until that time, measuring 22 meters high and with a capacity of 175 MW, becomes operational.

Units 1 and 2 of the Amyntaio-Philotas TPP start operations in August (capacity: 300 MW each).

The Giona HPP, with a maximum annual capacity of 55 GWh, is put into commercial operation in August 1988.

The Stratos Hydroelectric Project, on Acheloos river, is inaugurated on 14 May, adding 200 million kilowatt hours annually.

All Ptolemaida’s lignite units are fitted with new technology electrostatic filters during this year to tackle the problem of fly ash.

An agreement is signed paving the way for the project of district heating in Kozani and Ptolemaida (installation of a hot water supply network for heating and residential use). District heating will drastically substitute central heating boilers thus contributing to the reduction of air pollution.

Responding to a request by the Hellenic Water Ski Federation, PPC grants to the Greek State the free use of the small artificial lake between the Acheloos Bridge and the hydroelectric dam at Stratos for water sports and finances the necessary infrastructure works at the lake.

The Makrochori HPP becomes operational.

The new National and Southern Regional Energy Centre at Agios Stefanos, Attica, gets off the ground. Control centres are where the The new National and Southern Regional Energy Centre at Agios Stefanos, Attica, gets off the ground. Control centres are where the “heart” of the power plants beats; this is where the people ensuring their trouble-free and safe operation work.

The construction of the combined cycle power plant at Lavrio, the so-called Little Lavrio (capacity: 177 MW), is completed. The plant begins full-time operations in 1998, on completion of the installation of the natural gas pipeline ending at Lavrio.

The eighth unit of the Agios Georgios thermal power plant (Keratsini) is put back into operation, burning natural gas (160 160 MW). The plant operated on a back-up basis since 1985, due to the environmental pollution it caused. Next year the ninth unit becomes operational as well.

Two of the three units of the Thisavros HPP are put into commercial operation.

Final acceptance of the Kozani District Heating Project by Units 3 and 4 of the Agios Dimitrios TPP, on 20/5/1998.

Both Units of the Pournari HPP is put into commercial operation.

The modern online Customer Service System “Ermis” becomes fully operational nation-wide. All PPC customers are served through it. It is also used by the Customer Agencies of the Distribution to monitor customer financial information.

An agreement for the supply of district heating power to the city of Megalopolis from Megalopolis TPP A´ Unit 3 is signed.

Units 1 and 2 of the Platanovrisi HPP, the photovoltaic power plant on Sifnos island, and two new wind farms: on Lesvos island (capacity: 2 MW) and at Marmari, Evia (capacity: 5,1 MW), are put into commercial operation this year. The wind farm at Toplou monastery, Sitia, Crete, also goes operational (capacity: 5,1 MW).

On the 1st of January 2001 (Law 2773/1999) PPC becomes a Société Anonyme with the Hellenic Republic as its sole shareholder and the generation and supply of electric power as its main object.

The gas-fired power plant begins operating in the summer of 2002 and has an overall capacity of 485 MW.

Since 2005, CO2 emissions in all Power Plants are monitored and recorded based on a documented, centrally deployed Monitoring Plan adapted to the particular characteristics of each Power Plant.

A PPC subsidiary, “PPC Renewables S.A.”, is founded with the main object to develop RES projects.

PPC’s environmental policy is already in line with the European Union’s targets on energy policy. Rehabilitation of land at Megalopolis.

PPC applies the Social Residential Tariff (SRT) to support vulnerable consumer groups.

Two subsidiaries are established by PPC S.A., IPTO S.A. and HEDNO S.A., responsible for the Hellenic Power Transmission System and the Hellenic Network of Electricity Distribution respectively.

In 2013 a new, state-of-the-art natural gas-fired unit is built at Aliveri Unit V (capacity: 417 MW).

Completion of the hydroelectric power plant at Ilarion (capacity: 4,2 MW), a model investment with multiple benefits for local communities and the national economy in terms of development, energy and the environment.

Construction of the natural gas-fired unit Megalopolis V (capacity: 811 MW).

Completion of the ownership unbundling process of IPTO S.A. from the PPC (Law 4389/2016).

Establishment of the new electronic platform e-Bill for issuing Monthly Bills to registered customers.

PPC enters the natural gas market having obtained a license to supply N.G. to its customers.

Inauguration of the Naeras Hybrid Energy Project, on Ikaria, which combines wind and hydraulic energy.

PPC begins its transformation and announces the 3 new pillars of its corporate planning (phase-out of lignite units and emphasis on RES, digitalization and customer-centered services).

The extraordinary Covid-19 situation prompts PPC to take exceptional measures to protect consumers and staff and offer economic relief to its customers. At the same time, the company supports the NHS with a 5-million-euro donation.

With the motto “One with the future”, PPC renews its corporate image and enters a new era, always respecting its 70-year history.

In order to develop the largest network of publicly accessible chargers in combination with the provision of new value-added services, PPC inaugurates the official start of electricity in Greece, DEI Blue. At the same time, it enters into important collaborations with large companies with the aim of jointly implementing actions to promote e-mobility and the development of a sustainable transport system.

The electricity distribution network is a valuable asset for PPC and its modernisation is a strategic priority. The agreement with Macquarie Asset Management for the sale of 49% of HEDNO aims at the joint development of an extensive programme of digitisation and automation of the national grid that will facilitate the growing electrification of the economy and will provide quality and reliable services to all citizens.

In November 2021, PPC completes its share capital increase, raising €1.35 billion and attracting many major international investors. These funds will finance the €9.3 billion investment programme in RES until 2026, making PPC a leading power not only in Greece, but in the entire SEE region. With these investments, PPC is strengthening its position as a major regional electricity company and at the same time the country's geopolitical role.