The Minister of Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, unveiled the E-Lar program on Tuesday, a plan through which families can replace gas appliances with more efficient alternatives. Citizens will request a voucher that can be exchanged for the equipment. The government support is paid directly to suppliers, so beneficiaries do not need to advance money or wait for reimbursements.
More vulnerable families may receive up to 1,683 euros, while others can receive up to 1,100 euros. The goal of the program is to reach 30,000 families.
“It’s a direct and as simple as possible response: through a digital voucher, families will be able to exchange gas stoves, ovens, and heaters for energy-efficient electrical appliances, without having to advance money or wait for reimbursements,” detailed the minister during a press conference at the Ministry of Environment in Lisbon.
Support within this program will be paid “directly to equipment suppliers.”
“Today, we start a new chapter in energy efficiency and decarbonization policy. With the launch of the E-Lar and More Sustainable Neighborhoods programs, we are mobilizing 100 million euros to bring thermal comfort and energy efficiency to the homes of Portuguese people and those living in our country,” said Maria da Graça Carvalho at the press conference.
The minister elaborated that this voucher model is very similar to the one applied in other countries and identical to the school textbooks system, “simpler than previous ones.”
The selection process for suppliers will now proceed and be “ready before the end of September.” The network will be announced on September 30, after which the vouchers will be distributed.
Who is entitled to these vouchers?
Anyone with an electricity contract. The Minister of Environment explained that the voucher distribution will be a matter of “a few days because there is no qualitative assessment: either you have a social electricity tariff or you don’t, or you have an electricity contract for those without a social tariff, or you don’t.”
“That’s the only assessment, everything else is yes or no, so a very quick evaluation will be conducted,” she concluded.
Can any appliance be purchased? When?
No, the Minister of Environment clarified that the purchased equipment must be “class A or above,” as this is a program to encourage energy efficiency.
The voucher will be valid for 60 days and it is expected to be available from September 30, “until the amount runs out.” “We think the value will be depleted quickly,” she added.
The upcoming program will focus on replacing inefficient or gas stoves, ovens, and heaters with electric appliances of class A or higher. It will be launched this Tuesday.
Notícias ao Minuto | 07:51 – 05/08/2025
E-Lar is a program “approved by the European Commission within the reprogramming of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) aiming to support consumers in the energy transition, promoting the replacement of old appliances with energy-efficient equipment,” noted the consumer defense organization.
[News updated at 12:50 PM]
