Low-income citizens during the 2024-2025 heating season will receive energy compensation granted in the form of a monetary payment. The draft law on the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund was given a final reading by Parliament. Over 1.1 billion lei is needed for implementing the bill, IPN reports.

The authorities noted that, previously, the energy compensation was included in the bill and the process of granting support was intricate. Therefore, the authors of the document proposed that low-income families receive the compensation in the form of a monetary payment.

The management of the compensation system was simplified with the aim of reducing the burden on energy suppliers that previously calculated and provided the compensation. Respectively, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection will assume full responsibility for setting and calculating the compensation.

The Government will agree the method of calculating the size of compensation for vulnerable consumers based on the criteria and information from the "Energy Vulnerability" Information System. The compensation will be distributed through the government e-payment gateway MPay by the selected payment service provider. If the beneficiary of the energy compensation does not collect the money by June 30, the payment of the compensation will cease.

The draft law also contains provisions that refer to control over the correctness of the measures covered by the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the local social assistance agencies, as well as other responsible institutions will be able to carry out examinations or visits to applicants' homes in order to establish the accuracy of the submitted information.

The legislative changes will enter into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Subsequently, within three months, the Government will bring the normative documents in accordance with the adopted provisions.