On December 2, a new E-lar program contest will be launched to the tune of 51.5 million euros with the same rules as before.
Later, during a joint hearing of the Environment and Energy Committee with the Budget, Finance, and Public Administration Committee in Parliament, Minister of Environment Maria da Graça Carvalho revealed that 21,000 vouchers have been issued, worth 17 million euros, with 4,000 vouchers already used, totaling three million euros.
Early last month, the program, aimed at replacing gas appliances with electric ones in homes, received about 40,000 applications in six days, quickly exhausting the 30 million euros initially allocated.
The minister stated that the Government requested an additional increase from Brussels for the program, as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), which was accepted.
The Environment and Energy Minister explained today in Parliament that the Government requested an additional 50 million euros from Brussels for the E-Lar program, as the initial allocation was spent within a few days.
The program was highlighted on the Environmental Fund’s website, part of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, with applications opening on September 30 and closing less than a week later.
The E-lar program is designed to improve home thermal comfort and assist families in purchasing efficient equipment and electrifying energy use.
The E-lar program initially allocated 40 million euros to support the replacement of gas stoves, ovens, and water heaters with A-class or superior electric appliances.
Support can reach up to 1,683 euros for vulnerable families, with a maximum of 1,100 euros for other cases.
Applications for this second phase of the program, which provides support in the form of vouchers for appliance exchanges, will begin on December 2.
“Hidden costs are surprising consumers”
DECO PROteste reveals that “many consumers are facing unexpected expenses to take advantage of the offer.” Learn what’s at stake and follow the consumer advocacy organization’s recommendations.
“Although the vouchers of the E-lar program subsidize the purchase of appliances and, in some cases, the transportation and installation of the equipment, many consumers are encountering unexpected expenses to benefit from the offer,” says the consumer advocacy organization.
According to DECO PROTeste, “the first complaints arose shortly after the initial wave of responses to applications.”
