Abstract:
History, topography, and nature of people have influenced the development of electric power in Greece quite substantially. The power production per capita in Greece is very low as a result mainly of continual wars and an uneven distribution of population. In 1948, electricity was being supplied in the country only by small independent local companies which were using imported fuel. With the exception of the
Capital Area, the service was quite poor and unable to supply the increasing demand for power. The installed capacity was 205,187 KW; however, although this capacity amounts to 32.44 watts per capita, the maximum demand was only 18.11 watts per capita because of inadequate transmission and distribution facilities as well as poorly
maintained generating equipment. In 1948, the Greek Government decided to design and construct a new power system extending all over the country and using, as much as possible, available natural energy resources.
According to this plan, a program was adopted of constructing seven generating stations having a total capacity of 520,000 KW. Five of these plants are hydroelectric
projects while the other two are thermal, using locally-mined lignite for fuel. Furthermore, a transmission system, included in the program, will interconnect the above projects and cover the country as well as the
areas where industrial development had been limited by a lack of electric power. The new system was designed under the supervision of Ebasco Services Incorporated of New York and is supposed to cover the power needs of the country as soon as it is completed. Today, two hydroelectric and one thermal projects are supplying the country with electric energy; the rest are under construction or in the design stage. The New Power Program adopted a frequency of 50 cycles as well as standard transmission and distribution
voltages. The New Power Program has made a commendable start toward providing the country with a modern power system. A more extensive and more reliable transmission system should be developed as soon as possible. Transmission and distribution voltages should be standardized throughout
the country. People should be encouraged to use electricity by reduction of taxes on electricity and appliances. A continuing study of power demand and available energy resources should be made and the system
should be adjusted accordingly.
