The application process for the E-Lar appliance purchase support program will commence at the end of the month, meaning consumers are expected to be able to request vouchers for this purpose starting from September 30th.
Who is eligible for support?
The Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection, DECO, states that all adults are eligible to apply, divided into three groups:
The first group is for families living in neighborhoods included in the ‘More Sustainable Neighborhoods’ program, which are areas identified by local authorities to receive interventions that improve energy efficiency in homes.
The second group includes beneficiaries of the ‘Social Electricity Tariff’, which are families receiving discounts on electricity bills due to lower incomes.
Finally, the third group includes all other individuals not fitting the first two groups but can still apply and receive support to replace old gas appliances with more efficient electric models.
DECO emphasizes that for the first two groups, the program also covers transportation and installation services, facilitating the replacement of old appliances.
Applications open on September 30th
The Association reiterates that from September 30th, applications will be open for the E-Lar Program – Energy Efficiency in Residential Buildings, an initiative of the Recovery and Resilience Plan aiming to replace gas appliances with safer, more efficient, and sustainable electric alternatives.
The program has a total allocation of 30 million euros and aims to support about 30,000 families through vouchers for purchasing electrical appliances of class A or higher, such as induction or conventional electric hobs, ovens, hob and oven sets, and electric water heaters, DECO notes.
How to benefit from the support?
DECO explains that after the application is approved, the E-Lar voucher must be accepted within five business days and activated with the supplier within 60 days.
Each voucher can only be used once, ensuring the support is correctly applied. Consumers have additional responsibilities, such as keeping receipts and documents and cooperating with potential audits or program evaluations, DECO explains.
According to DECO, with the E-Lar Program, Portugal takes another important step in the energy transition, directly benefiting consumers. Families receive concrete support to make their homes more comfortable, efficient, and sustainable while reducing energy bills.
To ensure all consumers have information and access to this support, DECO has developed a service, the Housing and Energy Desk. This service is developed in partnership with Municipalities, thus ensuring proximity and accessibility to personalized information tailored to the real needs and profile of consumers, the Association further adds.
