More than 50,000 vulnerable families in Moldova will get vouchers to replace old household appliances. The Ministry of Energy on Wednesday launched the first stage of the program “Wreck for Electrical Appliances”, with the session for LED lamps. The vouchers will be given to consumers registered in the energy vulnerability information system on compensatii.gov.md last year, who were put in the very high energy vulnerability category. In the selection process, priority is given to families with at least one child, the number of children in the family being a prioritization criterion. Power consumption is also analyzed, IPN reports.
The recipients will be gradually notified by SMS messages, through the email address or will be phoned to be informed about the vouchers available in their personal accounts on compensatii.gov.md. Those who do not have mobile phones or Internet connection will be assisted by representatives of the Unified Public Services Provision Centers.
“The given program is an innovative example of using the support offered by the development partners with maximum responsibility, in an efficient manner, so as to ensure the continuity of the program after the external assistance project is completed. The information system on which the program is based enables to identify the beneficiaries in an automated way, eliminating human intervention in the decision-making process. This way, the vouchers are distributed in a transparent and impartial way to those who need them. Through the agency of this program, support is offered to purchase electrical appliances with more efficient energy consummation, contributing this way to the promotion of more reasonable and sustainable use of energy resources,” stated Ion Muntean, director of the Energy Efficiency Agency.
It was estimated that the replacement of one 60W incandescent lamp with a 10W LED lamp, similar by luminosity, helps to save 328.5 lei a year. In a household in which five lamps light are on concomitantly during seven hours a day, following the replacement with LED laps, about 1,642.5 lei a year in electricity consumption can be saved.
With a total budget of US$5.8 million, the program “Wreck for Electrical Appliances” will offer voucher-based financial assistance of up to 80% of the price of a fridge, electric stove or washing machine. The persons will contribute 20% of the value of the equipment. To use the voucher, the person will need to hand over a similar old domestic appliance to get a new one. The vouchers for LED lamps will be offered free, without a personal contribution.
Details about the program are available on ecovoucher.md. One can also contact the Energy Efficiency Agency’s Call Center on 0 8005 5005.
The program “Wreck for Electrical Appliances” is implemented with the financial support of the EU through the UNDP project “Addressing the impacts of the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova”.
