The government has cut 60% of the vouchers designed to combat energy poverty, a move that the Portuguese Consumer Protection Association (Deco) views with “concern.” According to Deco’s legal advisor João Fernandes, many consumers are complaining about the lack of progress in applying for the program.
“Despite the mechanisms provided in the program for better implementation, we receive many complaints about the lack of progress because they are not assigned a technical facilitator, an essential step to access the support,” said João Fernandes.
As a result, Deco has a “significant number of applications that, although deemed eligible, are still awaiting assignment without a date in sight – thus hindering access to support for the most vulnerable consumers.”
“Deco views this reduction with concern.”
Last week, it was reported that the government reduced the target for the Vales Eficiência program, which helps poorer families improve the energy efficiency of their homes, to less than half.
The initial plan was to distribute 100,000 vouchers, each worth 1,300 euros, to vulnerable families in potential energy poverty. However, the government cut this goal to 40,000 vouchers due to lack of demand and successive delays.
“Deco views this reduction with concern since the way to effectively support the most vulnerable consumers using the funds allocated for this purpose remains undefined and unregulated,” added the legal advisor from Deco.
Furthermore, he highlighted that “the program allowed, based on needs, the allocation of up to three vouchers per beneficiary, thus covering various types of interventions in homes, whether owned or rented – which may not be possible with future programs.”
To compensate, new supports for renovations and appliances are forthcoming, which will be “positive.”
“However, significant efforts must be made to improve consumers’ energy literacy so that they can understand, based on their specific circumstances, which investments will offer the greatest return prospects (not only from the perspective of replacing equipment but also regarding interventions in homes),” cautioned João Fernandes.
The legal advisor emphasized that “energy poverty does not only affect economically vulnerable consumers, but also many others who, due to various factors, do not yet have the mechanisms to participate in the energy transition as required by European directives and the National Energy and Climate Plan.”
Therefore, “a broader approach is needed, not only focused on social electricity tariff beneficiaries, necessitating the existence of programs, supports, and financing facilities (the so-called ‘green credits’ with reduced rates) for all those who want to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.”
