Filenews 13 December 2021
It accepts applications as of today the Sponsorship Scheme for the replacement of energy-intensive electrical appliances by vulnerable households announced by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry.
Specifically, the Ministry and the Res and ES Fund announced that the Sponsorship Scheme for the Replacement of Energy-Intensive Electrical Appliances, which is addressed to vulnerable households, is being announced today, December 13, 2021. Therefore, citizens who fall under the group of vulnerable electricity consumers and wish to replace electrical appliances provided for by the Plan with new ones of high energy efficiency, can proceed from today to submit an application for pre-approval.
Sponsorships range from €300 to €600, depending on the device. A total of €5 million will be granted. Eligible appliances are refrigerators/refrigerator-freezers, washing machines and air conditioners. Beneficiaries can replace up to five appliances, namely up to three air conditioners, a washing machine and a refrigerator. It is expected that the Plan, which will remain in force until 20/12/2022 or until the available budget is exhausted, will cover approximately 5,000 applications and will significantly help reduce the electricity bill of the households that will benefit. It is estimated that the replacement of devices with modern, high energy class, contribute to energy savings that can exceed 50%.
The Plan falls under the series of compensatory measures announced by the Government in recent months to curb the increase in the price of electricity, including the reduction of VAT on electricity bills to 5% for six months for vulnerable households, the reduction of VAT to 9% on electricity for three months for all other households and the 10% reduction in electricity tariffs of all consumers for the two months of November – December 2021 and January – February 2022.
According to the Minister of Energy, Mrs. Natasa Pilidou, "this measure also strengthens the protection of our vulnerable fellow citizens. Replacing electrical appliances with new higher energy-class appliances," he explained, "along with the energy upgrading of buildings and the use of RES, are important tools both for the long-term reduction of electricity costs and for the transition to a green economy."
In summary, vulnerable electricity consumers include: Beneficiaries of Guaranteed Minimum Income, recipients of public assistance from Social Welfare Services, recipients of severe disability benefit, recipients of care allowance for paraplegic people and quadriplegic people, recipients of sponsorship to blind people, pensioners with low incomes who receive an allowance, provided that they have reached the age of 70 and do not live with another person who has not reached the age of 70, and a large or five-member family that receives child benefit for three dependent children or more and has an annual mixed family income of up to €51,258. The income criterion is gradually increased by €5,126, for each additional child over four.
The four steps that beneficiaries must follow in order to participate in the project are:
- Electronic submission of a pre-approval request on the website of the RES and ES Fund (https://resecfund.org.cy). The request is submitted by the vulnerable electricity consumers themselves, as defined in Decree K.D.P. 289/2015.
- Purchase and installation of appliances (invoice in the name of the vulnerable consumer and indication of an electric appliance model).
- Electronic submission of a sponsorship application with an invoice attached.
- Evaluation and payment of sponsorship.
The old appliances that will be replaced should be delivered to the supplier for recycling purposes and a relevant certificate should be obtained.
The main provisions of the plan are analyzed below:
AIR CONDITIONERS | |
Up to 3 per beneficiary and/or residence |
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Energy efficiency class: A++ or higher for cooling and A+ or higher for heating (in the "middle" heating season). |
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CLOTHING WASHING ROOM | |
Up to 1 per beneficiary and/or residence |
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Energy efficiency class: C or more |
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REFRIGERATOR OR REFRIGERATOR FREEZER | |
Up to 1 per beneficiary and/or residence |
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Energy efficiency class: D or more |
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