ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s biggest power utility Public Power Corp. (PPC) reported on Thursday a 24.6% drop in core profit for the first quarter due to higher spending for gas purchases and to offset carbon emissions. PPC said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) came in at 170 million euros ($182.22 million) in the three months to March, down from 225.6 million euros in the same quarter last year. The group, which is 34% owned by the state, has offered discounts worth 800 million euros to households and businesses since last year to help them deal with soarin…