The energy ministry plans to present, next week, an overall package of measures for the retail electricity market, including a new framework for an electrical heating allowance supporting low-income consumers that will replace the existing system of universal subsidies offered for all electricity bills.

According to energypress sources, the plan’s structure will greatly resemble existing cost-support plans for other heating fuels, including diesel, natural gas, wood and pellet heating. This essentially means that both income and asset criteria will be taken into account.

Single people with an income of up to 16,000 euros per annum and married couples with an income of up to 24,000 euros per annum will be entitled to the electrical heating allowance. The income criterion will be increased by 5,000 euros per child for families with children.

Also, a property ownership limit of 200,000 euros is expected to apply for single people and 300,000 euros for married couples and single-parent families.

As is the case with existing heating fuel support, allowance limits for electrical heating costs will most likely range from 100 to 800 euros per year.

The allowance for electrical heating and allowance for other heating fuels will be mutually exclusive. Eligible parties will only be able to apply for one of the two allowances.