SIC News Interview
The Government admits opening a new phase of applications for the E-Lar program, which supports the replacement of gas equipment with electric ones, in 2025. The first round sold out 40 thousand places in just six days, a turnout well above expectations.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, confirmed this Thursday in an interview with SIC Notícias, that Brussels has already been asked to reinforce funding for the financed by the PRR. The objective is to launch a second phase in 2025, after the high demand in the first edition.
The program . The government official recognizes that the start-up was marked by complaints regarding access to the website, but guarantees that the process has “regularized” and that the evaluations “proceed normally”.
According to Maria da Graça Carvalho, the large volume of accesses was recorded right at the beginning. Around 385 thousand people tried to enter the platform simultaneously, which caused initial instabilities, which have since been resolved. The minister also highlighted that 388 vouchers have already been awarded and that 46 have already been exchanged for household appliances, in a network that includes both large supermarkets and small local stores.
The person in charge highlighted that the Government is negotiate the transfer of funds from the program to combat energy poverty to allow for this reinforcement of E-Lar. If Brussels gives the “green light”, the new phase should maintain the digital application model.
For those who have more difficulties, parish councils and Energy Spaces will be available to support filling out the formsa process that, according to the minister, “It takes less than five minutes.”
