The new e -lar program, promoted by the government to replace old appliances with more efficient versions, will start, according to SIC Notícias, during this July. Initially designed to benefit only family aggregates with lower income, the measure will now be extended to all families residing in Portugal, with differentiated support criteria depending on the socioeconomic situation.
The reimbursement will continue to be total (100%) for beneficiaries with social energy tariff or minimum social support. However, the other families should receive support with lower percentages, although the exact amounts have not yet been disclosed. Families are also covered to reside in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Equipment exchange will be limited to three categories
The program was designed to promote energy efficiency and the transition of gas appliances to more sustainable electrical solutions. The replacement will focus exclusively on stoves, ovens and drifts, requiring the exchange of old equipment for a new energy class to or higher.
According to the same source, a distribution model will be used similar to that of incentives to slaughter old vehicles, involving operators of the appliance market. The delivery of new equipment and collection of the old ones will be done by properly accredited entities, to ensure that the process results with transparency and effectiveness.
Families will have to keep new handsets at home
According to the above source, one of the Ministry of Environment’s concerns is to ensure that replaced devices are not diverted or reviewed. To this end, the control will be done through random visits to the beneficiaries of the beneficiaries, in order to verify that the equipment has been duly installed and remains in its dwellings.
The opening warning and detailed regulation of the program must be published in the next two weeks, including application procedures, eligibility requirements and support for the support, which should follow the valleys model and not reimbursement.
Gas sector companies contest exclusion
The decision to exclude gas equipment from the program motivated criticism from some companies in the sector. These entities claim to be unfairly penalized, stressing that there are gas stoves with high energy efficiency that could meet the same environmental goals as electric models.
It refers to the same source that the government does not exclude the possibility of future adjustments, but, for now, the focus is on fostering the progressive electrification of homes, especially with regard to the use of energy with lower carbonic footprint.
Priority will be to complete previous programs
The start of e -lar does not compromise the continuity of programs such as the most sustainable buildings, which still has about ten thousand pending candidates, or the efficiency valleys, which remain in the evaluation phase. Still, the Ministry of Environment ensures that the new program will be launched in July and will be equipped with a simpler and more functional implementation model.
The expected financial allocation is 100 million euros. Beneficiaries, after acceptance of the candidacy, should receive valleys for the acquisition of new equipment, and it is mandatory to deliver the old devices for the support to be granted.
Transparency and control as principles of the new model
The government intends to avoid the errors of previous programs, marked by significant delays and bureaucratic complications. For this, a more agile operational process is being designed, which directly involves the points of sale and eliminates the need for reimbursements, facilitating adhesion and ensuring greater traceability.
It also indicates that the creation of a digital platform that allows to follow the entire process, from the application to the installation of the equipment, promoting greater confidence and public control.
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