Applications have opened for the second phase of the E-Lar program, which supports the exchange of household appliances and now has a budget increase to €60.8 million.
DECO PROteste has warned that not all exchanges from gas to electric appliances are beneficial, and in some cases, the electricity bill may actually rise. Consumers should calculate their expected costs before applying, according to a statement sent to Notícias ao Minuto.
To assist with any questions, the consumer protection organization has prepared a guide with five questions and answers about the second phase of E-Lar. Get informed.
1 – How does this support work?
“All consumers can apply for the second phase of E-Lar, including those who received a voucher previously, as long as they are not applying for the same appliances supported in the first phase. Essentially, those who have already received a voucher for one of the included appliances cannot apply for a voucher for the same appliance again.
Applications end on June 30, 2026, or once the budget for this program is exhausted – in the first phase, the available budget ran out in just six days.
After registration with the Environmental Fund, the application is reviewed. If considered ineligible, the consumer will be notified by email. If eligible, they will receive an email notification to accept the Terms of Acceptance within a maximum of 5 business days. Upon acceptance, they will receive the voucher to be used.”
2 – What is the value of the support?
“The support varies depending on the group to which the applicant belongs. Consumers are divided between Group II and Group III, namely families with and without social energy tariffs.
Group II – Voucher values (including VAT):
- €369 for an induction electric hob;
- €179.60 for a conventional electric hob;
- €738 for a combo hob and electric oven in a single unit;
- €369 for an electric oven;
- €615 for an electric water heater.
In addition to the appliance voucher, beneficiaries in Group II, comprising families with access to social energy tariffs, are also entitled to support for additional services, such as €50 for transport, €100 for installation of hobs, ovens, or combos, €180 for installation of an electric water heater, and €50 for removal and sealing of the gas system.
Group III – Voucher values (excluding VAT):
- €300 for an induction electric hob;
- €146 for a conventional electric hob;
- €600 for a combo electric hob and oven;
- €300 for an electric oven;
- €500 for an electric water heater.
For this group, the voucher does not include VAT for the equipment, which the consumer must cover. Additionally, no reimbursement is provided for transport, installation, removal, and gas sealing services. Nevertheless, these services must be ensured by the equipment supplier, with costs borne by the consumer.”
3 – Where can the appliances be purchased?
“Consumers can purchase appliances from a network of participating suppliers listed on the Environmental Fund’s website. The list includes validated suppliers by region and provides contact details of companies that adhere to this support measure.
According to the E-Lar program rules, each voucher must be used only once and then blocked by vendors on the Environmental Fund’s platform. Therefore, if you intend to replace all possible appliances under this program, such as the oven, stove, or gas water heater, all purchases must be made at the same store in a single transaction.
Appliances should have energy efficiency ratings of Class A or higher, where applicable (e.g., there is no energy label for electric hobs), or Class B or higher for water heaters over 30 liters. If the voucher is not sufficient to cover the entire cost of the chosen appliance, the consumer must pay the difference directly to the chosen store.”
4 – What happens to the old appliances?
“Suppliers from whom consumers purchase appliances must collect and ensure proper disposal of old appliances. If a consumer wishes to keep the replaced appliance, suppliers are required to refuse the sale and installation of the new appliances purchased through the E-Lar program.”
5 – Are there appliances that cannot be exchanged?
“Only gas appliances are eligible for exchange, meaning the voucher cannot be used to replace, for instance, an already electric oven. Additionally, biomass boilers cannot be exchanged for an electric water heater, as the program aims to replace fossil fuels (gas) with electric alternatives.”
